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| January 23, 2003 | Thursday | Ziqa’ad 19, 1423 |
Owen sends Liverpool into final
LIVERPOOL, England, Jan 22: Michael Owen guided Liverpool into the League Cup final on Tuesday after they beat first division Sheffield United 2-0 on the night after extra time and 3-2 on aggregate.
Liverpool, who lost the away leg at Bramall Lane 2-1, took a ninth-minute lead through Senegal forward El Hadji Diouf but needed Owen’s
107th-minute strike to line up a final with either holders Blackburn Rovers or Manchester United.
Rovers host United on Wednesday with their semifinal tied at 1-1 after the first leg as they bid to reach the final in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on March 2.
Liverpool, who have won the League Cup a record six times, fully deserved their trip to Wales after keeping a courageous Sheffield United side under control for most of the game.
United enjoyed their best spell midway through the second half with midfielder Michael Brown’s free kick tipped over the bar by Kirkland and followed up by two goalmouth melees.
Liverpool restored their grip on the game in extra time and when Owen raced away on the break to tuck home Gerrard’s through ball, the outcome was never in doubt.—Reuters
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