The Field Marshal

Liverpool - The 'Comeback' Kings! Liverpool has been conferred the title of Comeback Kings since the fateful night in Istanbul last year. While such classic comebacks are great in showcasing the game of football to non-fans, it can be a real roller-coaster ride for Liverpool fans like myself. Yesterday was another comeback classic by Rafael Beniztez and his Men in Red. Liverpool started the 125th FA Cup Final looking listless and lost. Guess fatigue levels were high after playing around 60 matches in a season while most teams played only 40 plus games. However, that's still no excuse for a club of Liverpool's stature. From the way they played, I was pretty sure a trashing, a la AC Milan style in the Champions League final, was in order. Proving me right was the quick succession of 2 goals by West Ham. Two-nil down at the 28th minute was like sounding the death knell to the match. Even the commentators said the cup is more of less in West Ham's hands now. Then came Cisse, the lazy Frenchman, with a fantastic volley near the end of the 1st half. Two-One! Game on!!! You know it is Liverpool's night when Gerrard struck a beauty of a volley in the 54th minute to tie the game at 2-2. At this time, my morale was at an all time high since it plummeted at the 2-0 scoreline. Liverpool looked the better side after tying the score. However, Lady Luck decided to smile on West Ham when Konchesky floated in a cross which just happened to fly past Reina's outstretched hands. Darn! 3-2!!! Liverpool is behind again. As the seconds ticked by, it looked like a lost cause as West Ham held on to the ball and started running the clock down. My heart sank as we approached the 90th minute with the score at 3-2. In my mind, I was thinking that another comeback is just too much to ask of the men in red. They looked as if they are ready to drop dead from exhaustion any second. As I was about to give up all hope, Captain Fantastic aka Steven Gerrard, fired a blinder from 30m out. The ball streaked as if chased by the devil himself. My heart was in my throat as the ball smashed into the right corner of West Ham's goal! Both Mydaemon and I was shouting GOAALLLLLL!!!!! I being the loudest of the two lolz. People with weak heart should not attempt to watch any final football matches involving Liverpool. The chances of getting a heart attack is ridiculously high. As the game went into extra time, Liverpool players started dropping like flies as tired legs started to cramp. My heart was in my throat again. Having lost Xabi Alonso and Harry Kewell to injuries, the decimated reds looked a spent force as it tried to keep parity and proceed with the penalty kicks. Penalty kicks looked imminent up till West Ham decided that the 26 year wait for the FA Cup was too long and took a beautiful shot on goal at the very last minute of extra time. That beautiful shot produced one of the most magnificent saves by Pepe, wonder what is means, Reina, who have made 2 blunders leading to the first 2 goals by the Hammers. With that save, I am sure it's Liverpool's night again. Up came the penalty kicks. Don't think I need to elaborate as Reina saved 3 out of 4 penalties by the Hammers. Anton Ferdinand being the main culprit for the Hammers. There you have it, the comeback kings of Europe are not the comeback kings of knockout competition.