Liverpool win cup final rehearsal

Wednesday, 26, Apr 2006 10:32

Liverpool have won the dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final as they beat West Ham 2-1 at Upton Park.

However, Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia and West Ham's Hayden Mullins will now miss the game at the Millennium Stadium after they were dismissed following an altercation with eight minutes remaining.

Ultimately, Djibril Cisse's double either side of the break was enough to give the Reds victory, despite Nigel Reo-Coker's goal for the home side.

It was West Ham who created the first chance of the night when Bobby Zamora latched onto Yossi Benayoun's through-ball but he dallied for too long and the Liverpool defence were able to get back and prevent the shot.

Cisse fired a warning shot across the Hammers' boughs as his shot was saved by keeper Jimmy Walker.

However, the Frenchman didn't have to wait too long for his goal as Momo Sissoko broke forward on 19 minutes, fed Cisse and the striker, playing on the left-side of midfield, beat Walker at his near post.

Robbie Fowler came close to doubling Liverpool's lead as he struck the bar before Teddy Sheringham almost equalised on the stroke of half-time when he headed wide from Anton Ferdinand's cross.

However, the Hammers did get back on level-terms moments into the second-half as Zamora's cross was turned in by captain Reo-Coker from close-range.

Fernando Morientes almost put Liverpool ahead again soon after but his volley smashed against the bar.

Cisse then did put Liverpool in front on 54 minutes as Fowler split the defence and the Frenchman used his pace to get to the ball and finish past Walker.

West Ham struggled to get back into the game after that and the match ended with the red carding of Garcia and Mullins on 82 minutes.

The Spanish midfielder appeared to elbow Mullins as the players challenged for the ball and the former Crystal Palace man reacted by pushing Garcia to the ground.

Howard Webb showed them both red cards and they will now miss the final on May 13th.