And the Flag was Up!

Before a ball was kicked that Sunday, the Carabao Cup Final had all the makings of a classic. After all both teams featured in the match were considered the only two sides capable of challenging Man City for silverware and the EPL title. Chelsea were the essence of Tuchelball. A free-flowing brand of soccer that combines and blends defensive resilience into a mosaic of efficiency. After all, Chelsea boasted the second-best defense in the EPL conceding a miserly 18 goals. On the flip side of the coin, there were the high-flying Reds. Liverpool had been awe-inspiring as of late. Using and implementing Jürgen Klopp’s brand of ‘Heavy Metal Football’ or as it’s known in the German manager's homeland ‘Gegenpress’. So the stage was set. Two iconic brands of English football once again locked in an all-important match that could set the tone for the remainder of each season. And with a historic venue like Wembley Stadium, a classic was sure on the cards.

So just after 11:30 am EST (USA) the game kicked off. After a short moment of silence in commemoration and support of the people of Ukraine suffering from the effects of Russia’s war against them, the game kicked off in earnest. Supporters from both sides were in full voice belting out their teams' songs, flooding the stadium and TV broadcast with contagious electricity. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the match produced fireworks. After only 5 minutes into the game, Chelsea came within a fingertip’s length of scoring. Christian Pulisic was beautifully played in by a surgically administered pass from César Azpilicueta. Azpilicueta had been perfectly positioned to receive a pass from Kai Havertz, who was driving into the center of the top of the 18 from the left. He looked to have a good look at goal only to opt to pass it out wide to César Azpilicueta. Azpilicueta one timed a low cross to a wide open Pulisic who fired instantaneously from point blank range just on top of the 6. But the goal which seemed like a foregone conclusion was not to be. Liverpool’s young goalkeeper, Caoimhín Kelleher, stonewalled Pulisic with an amazing Spider-Man-like reaction save to keep the game in balance.

The next ten minutes became a frenetic back-and-forth of counterattacks. Before you knew it one team had dispossessed the other and was passing its way in on goal. Quickly ripping a shot. Only to have the shot blocked and possession ceded once again. This became the mantra of the game. Neither team was willing to settle the ball down in the hopes of catching the other off guard and punishing them on the counter.

It wasn’t until around the 28th minute Liverpool got their best opportunity to take the lead. Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a well placed cross into the center of the Chelsea box, just a hair inside the 18 yard box. At the same time, Sadio Mane was able to slip his defender and had a clear chance on goal but was unable to make good contact on the header and pushed it wide of the right-hand goal post.

Liverpool continued to keep the pressure on. Dominating possession for the next few minutes when in the 30th minute, new signing, Luis Diaz played a ball from the left wing along the ground to Mane who turned and tapped a pass to the oncoming Naby Keita. Keita fired a long-range effort from about the top of the arc above the 18. But Mendy was wise to it and stuck out an iron paw to stop the shot. But the ferocity of the blast prevented Mendy from being able to push it wide, and Mane was there to follow it up. Yet, Mendy with cat-like quickness recovered from the initial shot and channeled his inner Spider-Man, stonewalling Mane’s follow-up effort to the surprise to all. The likes of which have become synonymous with his expected performances and breathed new life back into Chelsea.

Four minutes crept by before Chelsea found their feat again. In the 34th minute, Chelsea took the reins following a turnover by Liverpool. Kante collected a deflected looping pass. Quickly distributing it to Pulisic who burst through the midfield. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz was sprinting up the left wing. Pulisic spotting the run played a beautiful ball to Havertz who collected and ripped a shot on goal. But as would become the story of the day. The flag was up!

At this point, Lukaku started warming up. Tuchel had seen enough from his misfiring front three, and a change was sorely needed. Havertz, Pulisic and Mason Mount all missing their earlier chances to score had cemented this decision. With each miss more agonizing than the last. And when the whistle blew we as viewers were no closer to knowing who would lift silverware that night than when the game kicked off.

Second Half: More of the Same

The second half kicked off with Chelsea clearly fired up after what must have been a tense halftime talk. Four minutes into the new half Christian Pulisic broke the Liverpool defense with a sublime chipped ball to put Mason Mount in on goal. However, Mount was unable to capitalize and smashed his shot on the inside post. The opening goal remained elusive. Tuchel was despondent, slamming the ground with both fists in frustration. He would have further reason to be when minutes later Azpilicueta mysteriously injured himself and had to be subbed off.

Another miss highlighted the next few minutes of play along with a nasty collision between Keita and Chalobah. It was a 50/50 ball and both went in with studs up but were unable to pull out of the challenge in time. Chalobah seemingly got the worse of it when Keita’s studs cut into his upper thigh.

The next seven minutes we’re stress filled for all fans. Shortly after the injury break, Andrew Robertson whipped in a poor cross after a cheap giveaway by Chelsea. A few minutes later Salah was played in on goal after a passing combo between Fabinho and Sadie Mane. But Salah’s chipped shot drifted wide after Thiago Silva was able to lay a boot to it. Making doubly sure there was no chance of the ball dribbling into the Chelsea net. Agony once again for the Reds faithful! It seemed like the goal mouth was an impenetrable wall that could not be breached no matter who may try to assail it.

Three minutes later Liverpool strike off a set piece worked in by Trent Alexander-Arnold from the right across to the far left post where Sadio Mané lurks and heads it across the frame of goal. Joel Matip is there in the center to head the ball home only for the goal to come under the scrutiny of VAR. The new tech of course determined that Virgil Van Dijk was offside and his run impeded Reece James from marking Mané. Goal disallowed!! And the sides soldier on.

Chelsea manager Tuchel, sensing the winds of change blowing ever stronger in Liverpool’s favor makes a double switch. Bringing on Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to add some new life to the attack. But Luis Díaz, who all game has looked inspired, continued his relentless onslaught. Firing a low driven shot that’s just saved by Mendy. Who has to be said has played out of his mind!

Two minutes after Mateo Kovacic slips in a ball to Timo Werner who heads the cross to Havertz but of course, is flagged offsides. No goal again! And the anxiety and frustration levels continue to rise against the dam that refuses to break.

The time on thr clock was now 79 minutes and Liverpool had to make a triple substitution because tired legs were beginning to show. Five minutes passed before another clear cut chance is made. But what a chance it was! Robertson plays a nice one-two with Díaz who unleashes a blistering shot which Mendy parried, only for it to fall to the onrushing Robertson who can’t quite get his feet right and Mendy again comes up with an otherworldly save!

The teams reach the full 90 and the touchline assistants board goes up showing six minutes of extra time. As the minutes whittle down both sets of fans resign themselves to the seeming inevitability of Extra Time. But Lukaku damn near shatters that notion with a beautiful shot from a low-driven cross at the near left post(as seen on TV) but somehow the young Kelleher gets his left leg on the shot to deflect it wide. And the ball trickles out over the end line.

Extra Time and PK Magic

There is only one title or headline that could perfectly encompass the sentiment of the night/game it would be the title “The Game of Woe”. Because so it seemed on a night like tonight. Extra time kicked off with lackluster in comparison to the opening 90. Until the 8th minute of ET when Lukaku again was at the center of a sublime Chelsea attack. At which point Lukaku, who was working the right side of the field, was played in by superb ball. Wasting no time he cut the ball onto his left foot and aimed a low shot past Kelleher into the net, but the linesman a flag was raised. A quick VAR check minute later confirmed what all Blues fans dreaded. The goal was no good. Ruled out by a paper thin offside but it still nevertheless was an offside play, despite how marginal (criminally so) it was to call.

The first half of extra time continued on with Chelsea dominating much of play. However, before the whistle blows to end the first half of ET. A quick sub was made: Jorginho for Kovacic. The second half kicked off with fatigue becoming the main character in this long drawn out epic. But five minutes tick by. And then GOAL!!! Guess who? If you guessed Lukaku you’d be wrong. The correct name you are looking for is Kai Havertz. And if you truly thought he scored you’d be wrong again. Because our best friend VAR had other plans. That and the fact he was a yard offsides (3ft for those non metric folks). Had you there for a second.

Both sides at this point look deflated not from the results of not scoring so much but more to do with the strains of exertion. The 2nd half trickles to a close with fatigued legs nerfing any real chance for late success. Then before time runs out Mendy, who had played lights out all game, is inexplicably withdrawn and in his place steps Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The pundits and Chelsea fans are utterly confused by the move. Since it’s an unnecessary risk to take. Not to mention Kepa is stepping into a situation of facing PKs not having faced a single shot up until the first kick by Liverpool. Even still, Mendy dutifully steps down and Kepa takes his position in goal to face James Milner for the first PK.

So up steps the veteran Milner and he buries the ball ruthlessly. His signature coolness oozing in his veins. Kepa had no chance. Then it’s Alonso’s who steps up. He fires a rocket to the lower right of the net. Kelleher guesses right but still is unable to lay a hand to it. Fabinho scores. Lukaku answers right back with one of his own. Sending Kelleher the wrong way on his attempt. The score is now tied at 2-2 apiece on PK’s. And so the night marched on. Neither side backing down or seemingly able to miss from the penalty spot. As the minutes rolled by it must have seemed like lifetimes for the rabid fan bases. 4-4. 5-5 6-7. 7-7. 10-10. And the penalty slugfest continued, unrelentingly, with the cruelty of defeat painstakingly close for either side should they miss.

Now it was down to the keepers. All hopes now rested on the two opposing goalies’ decisive kicks. Kelleher was the first to go. Up he stepped with the coolness of a veteran multiple years his senior. And with power Kelleher blasted the shot up and to the left of Kepa who guessed wrong and dove low and away. Now with the last kick Kepa placed the ball on the spot. From his body language, you could tell the immense pressure he was feeling at that very moment. Kepa ran up but his shot soared a good six feet over the center crossbar! A deflated end to what had been an otherwise great game. But for Reds fans the world over it was pandemonium! The silverware was secured and squarely in Liverpool's hands. A welcome relief after such a grueling game. And on a night of many raised flags, the only ones still waiving at the end of it all were the red of the Liverpool faithful!