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Bellamy rockets Liverpool to Carling Cup final

Comment: 0 January 26th, 2012

A CRAIG Bellamy second-half goal helped Liverpool hold Manchester City to a 2-2 draw Wednesday and earn a 3-2 aggregate victory after the Carling Cup’s semi-final second leg at Anfield.

A back-and-forth play with defender Glen Johnson allowed Bellamy to launch a strike that went past Joe Hart in the 74^th minute, sending the Reds to the competition’s finals at Wembley.  This will be Liverpool’s first Carling Cup final since 1996.

Bellamy’s shot came as an equaliser to a game that began with a 31^st minute goal by Nigel de Jong that flew above Reds keeper Pepe Reina.  City’s lead however was answered by a penalty shot from skipper Steven Gerrard on the 40^th.

The current Premier League leaders retrieved their lead at 70 minutes after Aleksandar Kolarov struck the ball across the goal and Edin Dzeko came in to tap it home.

Six minutes after Bellamy scored the equaliser that gave Liverpool their finals slot, to the jubilation of the Anfield crowd.

Bellamy, formerly with Manchester City, will travel with the rest of the squad to face Cardiff City, which acquired the striker on loan before he headed for Merseyside.

“The omens were looking good,” said Bellamy, a native of Cardiff.  “I watched Cardiff go through and was delighted for them but knew it was a great opportunity for us.

“It couldn’t be a better final for me.  Cardiff means so much to me.  It’s where I’m from.  I haven’t played at Wembley either.”

A teary-eyed Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish was in near-disbelief after the match, as he joked around while attempting to absorb the reality of the upcoming trip to Wembley.

“Maybe we’ve forgotten the route to Wembley,” he said.  “We’ve not been for a while.  But I’m sure the driver will remember.”

The Scott, who came slightly under fire from fans after their slightly unimpressive form came to a shock 1-3 defeat against Bolton, was quick to send out a call to supporters.

“It’s great for the people who have stood by us,” said Dalglish.  “It has not been so good for Liverpool Football Club over the last few years.  But I’ve said before that if we stick together we can get our reward.

“The players were magnificent and everything that was lacking at Bolton last Saturday was there in abundance tonight.”

The mood was predictably different on City’s side, where the anger was coming in waves after Phil Dowd awarded Gerrard the penalty after a Micah Richards handball.

Manager Roberto Mancini was eager to point out that City deserved a penalty after Charlie Adam clipped Dzeko.

“I didn’t think their penalty was a penalty, while we should have had one for a foul on Dzeko.  I feel a sense of injustice,” said Mancini.

“In the last two months we have been very unlucky with referees,” he continued.  “The ball touched Micah’s leg before his hand.  Phil Dowd is one of England’s best referees but I am giving my opinion it was not a penalty.”

Liverpool are set to meet Cardiff for the Carling Cup final on 26 February.

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