Liverpool players John Arne Riise (left) and Jamie Carragher celebrate after winning their FA Cup semi-final tie against Chelsea at Old Trafford, Manchester yesterday. - Reuters
LONDON, (Reuters):
LIVERPOOL REACHED the FA Cup final and foiled Chelsea's bid for the league-Cup double with a 2-1 victory in their semi-final at Old Trafford in Manchester yesterday.
Rafael Benitez's side will meet either Middlesbrough or West Ham United, who meet in the other semi-final at Villa Park in Birmingham today, in the May 13 final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
"To win this game was amazing ... I think in the end the players worked so hard, we deserved to win," said Benitez, relieved that his team withstood Chelsea's late onslaught.
Liverpool went ahead midway through the first half when John Arne Riise scored from a free kick, curling a low shot between Paulo Ferreira and Frank Lampard at the near end of the wall and past unsighted keeper Carlo Cudicini.
Chelsea conceded the second goal from a throw-in on the right on 53 minutes when a poor headed clearance fell to Luis Garcia. The Spaniard raced away from three defenders to hit a dipping shot high into the far top corner.
"It was a fantastic goal for Luis and necessary for us," said Benitez.
CLEARING THE BALL
Didier Drogba put Chelsea back into the game with 20 minutes to go when Liverpool made a hash of clearing the ball and keeper Jose Reina, racing off his line, was caught out of position by the striker's header.
It was Benitez's second win against Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in 10 meetings in all competitions after the Merseysiders put the Londoners out of the Champions League in the semi-finals almost a year ago.
In the Premier League, Thierry Henry came on as a substitute and scored in the 84th minute to earn Arsenal a 1-1 draw with Tottenham in the last game at Highbury between the north London rivals.
Henry came on as a substitute he was being rested for Tuesday's deciding second-leg Champions League semi-final and scored 22 minutes after entering play.
Robbie Keane put Tottenham ahead in the 66th and Tottenham finished with 10 men after Edgar Davids was sent off in the 86th for a second yellow card.
The draw leaves Tottenham in fourth place four points ahead of Arsenal as the two clubs fight for the last Champions League spot from England. Spurs have two games remaining and Arsenal three.
"I was in the dressing room and they were not celebrating ... so that is a good sign," Tottenham manager Martin Jol said. "Hopefully we can win the next two matches and then we will be fourth."
"For me, I think we deserved something out of this game. Even an Arsenal fan would agree with me."
Arsenal could also qualify by winning this season's Champions League, which would oust Spurs from the competition irrespective of their league positions. The Gunners face Villarreal on Tuesday in the second-leg semi-finals they lead 1-0 _ and hope to advance to their first final on May 17 in Paris.
In other Premier League games yesterday: Bolton 4, Charlton 1; Everton 0, Birmingham 0; Newcastle 3, West Bromwich Albion 0, Portsmouth 2, Sunderland 1.
