TSMI TSMI TSMI KOSTAS TSIMKAS wins the FA Cup for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds

A lot can happen in ten years, a decade of time flies by and you don’t know how it can go so quickly.

In footballing terms it goes so quick that quite literally everything will change.

Ten years ago was when Liverpool were last in an FA Cup final playing the very same opposition as Chelsea came out victorious even after Andy Carroll’s inspired substitute performance.

This time it was all different.

Only Jordan Henderson remained from both sides a decade on and he would be the one lifting the trophy up to the fans that adore the side that are giving them the greatest of days.

In doing that he made history by being the first Liverpool captain to lift six different trophies.

History for Hendo 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

The first Liverpool captain to lift six different trophies ❤ pic.twitter.com/Rr2xlvgGNi
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 14, 2022

Just like the Carabao Cup final in February there was no goals in 120 minutes which meant of course penalties, with Kostas Tsimikas of all people stepping up to take the seventh penalty.

He dispatched it with calmness and supporters could not have wished for a player more desperate to be the hero than Tsimikas.

Bouncing to One Kiss by Dua Lipa moments after cupping his ears to the Chelsea fans, there could not have been someone better.

Wait for it…..#FirminoCam 😂 pic.twitter.com/rXbrgxKTsL
— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) May 14, 2022

Let us rewind though and relive how we got to that point because it was one hell of a FA Cup final to say there was zero goals.

Liverpool came flying out of the traps early on as Luis Diaz had two one on one dribbles against Trevor Chalboah who looked like he would be in for a tough evening from the get go.

Chalobaoh did get a vital block on the first attempt though and the second run Diaz cut the ball back just behind Mo Salah.

A Trent Alexander-Arnold outside the foot peach of a pass put Diaz in yet again with his shot being saved by Edouard Mendy before a goalmouth scramble which ended up with the ball being cleared out to Naby Keita.

His effort was a poor one going wide of the post with Mendy flying out at him.

Trying to figure out how Luis Díaz doesn’t have a goal 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/W3AAr6ZOhD
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 14, 2022

That was inside the opening ten minutes however Chelsea grew into the game with Christian Pulisic coming ever so close with a delicate effort after a Mason Mount pull back.

Tomas Tuchel’s side built on that chance and gained momentum with Marcos Alonso getting played through on goal soon after but Alisson Becker smothered the shot superbly as he always does.

Then on the 33rd minute mark came a massive blow for Liverpool as Salah sat down complaining about an injury and he is never one to normally do that.

He could not carry on so on came Diogo Jota in his place however Salah said after the game he should be fit for the Champions League final.

In stoppage time of the first time came the most glaring opportunity of the first 45.

Liverpool broke with Sadio Mane and the ball found itself with Andy Robertson whose cross was perfectly on Jota’s boot, the whole ground expected the net to rustle but the ball went high instead over the bar.

No player created more chances than Diogo Jota in the first-half of the #EmiratesFACup final (2).

◉ Diogo Jota (2)
◎ Trent Alexander-Arnold (2)
◎ Sadio Mane (2)

He came on in the 32nd minute. 😅 pic.twitter.com/P4RnbtiJsT
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 14, 2022

Half-time.

Everyone had a chance to catch their breaths in the beaming sun that was kissing Wembley.

The second half began and it was all Chelsea.

They came out of the blocks in a rapid fashion whilst Liverpool looked like they were still sat in the dressing room.

Alonso had a effort that went just wide and Alisson was called into action yet again as Pulisic’s shot was destined for the bottom right hand corner of his net.

In the second phase of play Reece James was fouled on the right hand side by Diaz.

Alonso stood over the ball and whipped an outrageously audacious effort over Alisson but only onto the crossbar, Liverpool survived a five minute onslaught.

Off the bar from @marcosalonso03 😮#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/NNNKOhdfrB
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 14, 2022

It was then the side in red who came a whisker away a few moments later with Luis Diaz, who sparkled throughout, pulling a fizzing shot just wide of Mendy’s post.

An hour in and neither side could break the deadlock and you could tell that the game was taking a lot out of them with the pace of the final fluctuating.

The last ten minutes were as hectic as it got though as Liverpool got a second-wind.

In the 83rd minute Diaz picked the ball up on the right in the box and hammered a shot against the post as he attempted to beat Mendy at a tough angle.

A minute later subsitute James Milner had the ball on the right wing and whipped in a delicious ball to the back post but Andy Robertson could only deflect it off his shin onto the post.

82:19: Luis Diaz hits the post
83:22: Robertson hits the post@LFC couldn't have come much closer 😱#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/6RIpoEFcZy
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 14, 2022

One last opportunity came the way of Diaz, yet again, and it was all his own making as he cut onto his right to bend one past Mendy but also past the post.

Extra time it was.

Extra time it wasn’t.

Over in a flash with next to nothing happening because of how tired the players seemingly were.

So to penalties yet again.

Cesar Azpilicueta missed his second spot kick to give Liverpool early hope.

Milner, Thiago, Roberto Firmino and Alexander-Arnold all dispatched their penalties with aplomb.

Then it came to Sadio Mane to win it against his Senegal teammate Edouard Mendy, having scored two winners in penalty shootouts this season for his country it felt right the pressured situation came down to him.

He stepped up and his penalty lacked power with Mendy reaching down to his left to save it.

That moment Edouard Mendy saved countryman Sadio Mane's penalty! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/eFP6zXM2As
— GOAL Africa (@GOALAfrica) May 14, 2022

Tuchel was on the pitch banging the floor in celebration as Chelsea supporters threw a flare onto the pitch in joy.

Two penalties each later though and the emotions had swapped all over again.

Alisson had his hero moment as he got a massive strong glorious hand to Mason Mount’s penalty.

Then it fell to Tsimikas and we all know the result of that.

An unfathomable amount of flares were set off in the Liverpool end as One Kiss serenaded everyone associated with the side in red in the ground but haunted the ears of those who did not.

A blanket of red smoke hovering over Wembley. Credits: Daisy Kinnin

A seventh FA Cup, another trophy to the cabinet thanks to the back-up left back.

Nicknamed the Greek scouser but Tsimikas feels more than that as he said after the game: “I am not the Greek scouser I am the scouser who is Greek!”

One Kiss bouncing in Wembley. Credits Jaymee Brocklehurst

That is the special thing about these set of players and coaching staff for Liverpool fans, they get it just as much as them, they want it as much as them and they care as much as them which is all instilled into them by one man.

Mr Jurgen Klopp, he has already completed the set.

A domestic double with another Henderson shuffle.

This Team ❤️ The determination of these lads was unbelievable today. Happy skipper!!! 🔴 #YNWA pic.twitter.com/xjfl0WdRYg
— Jordan Henderson (@JHenderson) May 14, 2022

Two more trophies are still possible in the next two weeks.

A lot can happen in two weeks.