CARDIFF, Feb 28: Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-2 after extra-time in a thrilling League Cup final on Sunday to claim their first trophy under manager Jose Mourinho.

After the regulation 90 minutes had finished 1-1, Chelsea were fired to victory by goals in the second period of extra-time from Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman.

Antonio Nunez pulled a goal back for Liverpool a minute after Kezman had scored Chelsea's third to ensure there was suspense right to the end. But the Reds were unable to produce the goal that would have forced a penalty shoot-out.

Liverpool had looked on course for victory for most of the initial 90 minutes after Norway midfielder John Arne Riise scored with a sweetly struck volley just 43 seconds after kick-off at the Millennium Stadium. But they were denied 12 minutes before the end of regulation time when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored a freakish own goal, the ball scuffing off his head, past Jerzy Dudek and into his own net. -Reuters