Cardiff City’s road to the 2012 Carling Cup final at Wembley
First Round – August 10, 2011: Oxford United 1-3 (a.e.t.) Cardiff City
• Conway gave Cardiff City the lead within the first quarter of an hour but Oxford United equalized after 30 minutes. Both sides failed to take the lead during normal time so extra-time football was needed. Whittingham (98’) and Jarvis (121’) settled things on a positive note for the visitors.
Second Round – August 23, 2011: Cardiff City 5-3 (a.e.t.) Huddersfield Town
• It was a terrific encounter. Spectators witnessed 8 goals split 5-3 throughout 120 minutes of action. Gyepes and Parkin scored a goal each within a minute to put Cardiff City 2-0 at half-time. However, Rhodes replied with a brace in the 53rd and in the 88th minute. In between, Ward netted a goal inside the 70th minute for Huddersfield Town.
Cardiff City needed a 93rd minute equalizer from Cowie to make it 3-3 and send the game into extra-time. Conway gave a 4-3 advantage to the hosts after 96 minutes of play before Cowie ended Huddersfield Town’s hopes 3 minutes before the end of proceedings.
Third Round – September 21, 2011: Cardiff City 2-2 (a.e.t.) Leicester City (7-6 pen.)
• There was more drama in the Third Round. Cardiff City were moments away from losing 2-1 to Leicester City but Gestede’s 82nd minute equalizer cancelled Howard and Dyer’s goals. This time, even extra-time football wasn’t enough to separate the two teams on the pitch. Spot kicks decided the outcome. Cardiff City made no mistake in the shoot-outs and won 7-6 as Leicester City’s Fernandes missed his penalty.
Fourth Round – October 25, 2011: Cardiff City 1-0 Burnley
• For the first time in their 2011/12 FA Cup campaign, Cardiff City won in normal time. Mason’s 40th minute strike in front of 11,601 spectators proved to be the difference.
Fifth Round – November 29, 2011: Cardiff City 2-0 Blackburn Rovers
• Cardiff City followed up with a comfortable 2-0 victory over English Premier League relegation-threatened side Blackburn Rovers. Miller and Gerrard got the goals.
Semi-final first leg – January 10, 2012: Crystal Palace 1-0 Cardiff City
• Gardner’s goal for Manchester United’s giant killers, Crystal Palace, put Cardiff City in an awkward position. The pressure was firmly on the visitors ahead of the second leg of this tie.
Semi-final second leg – January 24, 2012: Cardiff City 1-0 (a.e.t.) Crystal Palace (3-1 pen.)
• Cardiff City turned the tables around by making a mockery out of first leg match winner Anthony Gardner. The latter scored a 7th minute own goal which took the game all the way to a penalty shoot-out. Miller missed his spot kick for Cardiff but his blunder didn’t cost anything as Easter, Scannell and Parr committed errors for Crystal Palace.
With this dramatic victory, Cardiff City secured tickets for the 2011/12 Carling Cup final.
Liverpool’s road to the 2012 Carling Cup final at Wembley
Second Round – August 24, 2011: Exeter City 1-3 Liverpool
• The Merseyside Reds commenced their Carling Cup hunt with a 3-1 win in Exeter. Luis Suarez broke the deadlock midway through the first half, Maxi doubled the lead after 55 minutes and Andy Carroll ended the contest 3 minutes later. Nardiello converted a penalty for Exeter City 10 minutes from time but it was nothing more than a consolation.
Third Round – September 21, 2011: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Liverpool
• Liverpool once again conceded a penalty late in the game but hanged on to victory. Brighton & Hove Albion couldn’t overcome Bellamy’s early strike and Kuyt’s 82nd minute goal.
Fourth Round – October 26, 2011: Stoke City 1-2 Liverpool
• Kenwyne Jones provided a scare for Liverpool when he put Stoke City into the lead just before half-time. However Luis Suarez came to the Merseyside Reds’ rescue with two vital goals in the second period.
Fifth Round – November 29, 2011: Chelsea 0-2 Liverpool
• A great return to Stamford Bridge for Liverpool piled pressure on coach Andre Villas-Boas. At the break, both Chelsea and Liverpool were on equal terms. The scoreboard read 0-0. However, Kenny Dalglish’s half-time team talk apparently empowered the players as Maxi Rodriguez and Kelly fired home to seal a 2-0 win for Liverpool.
Semi-final first leg – January 11, 2012: Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool
• Liverpool played at the Etihad Stadium as if the ground was theirs. Captain Steven Gerrard scored from the penalty spot to give his side a huge advantage ahead of the return leg.
Semi-final second leg – January 25, 2012: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
• This fixture produced 4 goals. Once again, Gerrard got on the score sheet through a spot kick to cancel Nigel de Jong’s 31st minute opener. Bosnia & Herzegovina star Edin Dzeko restored the lead for Manchester City after 67 minutes. At that point, the Citizens were assured of playing in the 2011/12 Carling Cup final but Liverpool’s desire to maintain their aspirations were too strong.
Craig Bellamy made it all square 16 minutes from time as Liverpool sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory en route to Wembley.
Which of the two Carling Cup finalists had the most remarkable adventure? Based on how the story went for both Cardiff City and Liverpool, who deserves to lift the trophy at Wembley on Sunday?
