Caoimhín Kelleher, cup final hero! Has a bit of a ring to it, doesn't it?
Liverpool have won the Carabao Cup final at Wembley this evening, defeating Chelsea on penalties after a pulsating 120 minutes in London.
In a game that had a boat load of chances and four disallowed goals, it was miraculous that it went to penalties with the scoreline still at 0-0.
Once the spot kicks got underway, the two teams couldn't stop scoring. Both sides would score their first ten penalties of the shootout, meaning it would all come down to the goalkeepers.
Republic of Ireland international Caoimhín Kelleher, who was an outfield player in his youth, made no mistake and buried his effort into the top corner.
Chelsea's Kepa could not do the same, blazing his penalty over the bar to ensure the trophy would be travelling back to Anfield.
SCENES!!! 🤯
Kepa Arrizabalaga misses the 22nd penalty after being subbed on for the shoot-out! 😨 pic.twitter.com/yLIOIQWdUD— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 27, 2022
While he didn't manage to save a penalty, Kelleher would still be the hero on the day. It was his penalty that proved to be the winner, an achievement not many goalkeepers can claim.
Caoimhín Kelleher scores Liverpool's winning penalty
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he revealed that he hadn't even realised that it was his penalty that secured the trophy for his team.
🗣 "I forgot I scored the winning one." 😅
Caoimhin Kelleher on scoring the winning penalty for Liverpool in the League Cup final pic.twitter.com/xeUNesNUXv— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 27, 2022
It's a mad one. I thought I'd save one, I didn't but I got close to a few. When it came down to me I didn't even think I had scored the winning penalty, I didn't realise I scored the winning one.
All the penalties from the lads were class so I was just happy to score...
I think it was more hit and hope! I got close to a few, but all the penalties were very high quality. Thankfully we were able to win...
I thought we had scored when [Matip] got that goal, but it was disallowed. Obviously they had a few disallowed as well, so to be fair over the whole game a draw was a fair result...
[Klopp] just said well done for scoring the winning penalty! There's a wall at Anfield with all the goalies who have won cup, he said 'now is your chance to go on that'.
What a day for the Cork man.
Hopefully this will be one of many trophies that he wins over the course of his career.
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