Liverpool beat West Ham United on penalties in one of the most memorable FA Cup finals in years yesterday in Cardiff.
The Hammers took an early two-goal lead thanks to Jamie Carragher's own goal and Dean Ashton's close-range strike, before Djibril Cisse pulled one back.
Steven Gerrard lashed home an equaliser after the break before Paul Konchesky's speculative cross put West Ham ahead.
Gerrard's stunning last-minute strike forced extra-time, with Pepe Reina saving from Bobby Zamora, Konchesky and Anton Ferdinand in the shoot-out.
Dietmar Hamann, Gerrard and John Arne Riise all scored from the spot for Liverpool, with only veteran Teddy Sheringham finding the net for West Ham.
A relieved Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said afterwards: "It was difficult to say we deserved to win or the other team.
"It was a magnificent final. We knew that they could score goals but that we could also.
"We needed to keep going but after 63 games it was really difficult."
Hammers boss Alan Pardew said: "It felt like a defeat when the third goal went in. We rallied and had a great chance in extra time.
"We had to dig in. This was a top team we were playing, but I felt we were going to win. Only a 35-yard Gerrard smasher was going to change that.
"The players have been magnificent - we are proud of the way we played."
Pardew added: "We can take a lot from this game. The first trophy is always the hardest to win.
"But this team will come back - we produced a performance to show we can live with the big boys."
The Hammers took an early two-goal lead thanks to Jamie Carragher's own goal and Dean Ashton's close-range strike, before Djibril Cisse pulled one back.
Steven Gerrard lashed home an equaliser after the break before Paul Konchesky's speculative cross put West Ham ahead.
Gerrard's stunning last-minute strike forced extra-time, with Pepe Reina saving from Bobby Zamora, Konchesky and Anton Ferdinand in the shoot-out.
Dietmar Hamann, Gerrard and John Arne Riise all scored from the spot for Liverpool, with only veteran Teddy Sheringham finding the net for West Ham.
A relieved Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said afterwards: "It was difficult to say we deserved to win or the other team.
"It was a magnificent final. We knew that they could score goals but that we could also.
"We needed to keep going but after 63 games it was really difficult."
Hammers boss Alan Pardew said: "It felt like a defeat when the third goal went in. We rallied and had a great chance in extra time.
"We had to dig in. This was a top team we were playing, but I felt we were going to win. Only a 35-yard Gerrard smasher was going to change that.
"The players have been magnificent - we are proud of the way we played."
Pardew added: "We can take a lot from this game. The first trophy is always the hardest to win.
"But this team will come back - we produced a performance to show we can live with the big boys."
