Liverpool defeated West Ham 3-1 on penalties to lift the FA Cup for a seventh time after a truly epic final at The Millennium Stadium finished in a 3-3 draw.
Jose Reina's save from Anton Ferdinand settled an incredible match as the 2006 final came down to a single kick after 120 minutes of compelling action which West Ham had seemed destined to win as the 90 minutes drew to a close.
After Reina denied Bobby Zamora and Paul Konchesky, John-Arne Riise earned The Reds a 3-1 lead from the spot and Anton Ferdinand's failure to score from 12 yards sent Liverpool into throes of ecstasy.
FA Cup finals are all too often uninspiring affairs but this match had everything.
East London had been preparing to toast Konchesky after his 64th minute cross somehow found its way into the back of the net but they had reckoned without Steven Gerrard who incredibly dragged The Reds up by the bootlaces and into extra-time.
In 21 pulsating first half minutes The Hammers found themselves two goals to the good through an own goal from Jamie Carragher and a strike from Dean Ashton which owed to an error from Reina before Liverpool struck back.
Djibril Cisse reduced the arrears immediately and Gerrard volleyed home emphatically in the second half to level the scores at 2-2.
Konchesky's speculative effort appeared to have been enough to settle an epic final but Gerrard produced a goal of supreme quality to take the tie into extra-time.
After a tepid opening 20 minutes, where neither side were able to find any degree of penetration, the final sprung into life, and in unexpected fashion. The normally assured Xabi Alonso inadvertently set up the opening by losing possession to Yossi Benayoun and The Hammers surged forward.
The play switched to Ashton who delayed his pass before playing a superbly weighted pass to the marauding Lionel Scaloni and the Argentine's cross deflected off the off-balance Carragher and into the back of the net. Marlon Harewood was lurking with intent but Reina would have collected the cross had it not been for Carragher's clumsy intervention.
After conceding an uncharacteristically sloppy goal, The Reds remarkably did likewise just seven minutes later as Ashton, integral to the creation of his side's first goal, executed The Hammers' second himself.
Matthew Etherington wriggled around Sami Hyypia, slipping as he shot at goal. Reina inexplicably fumbled the straightforward shot and Ashton nipping in, contrived to squeeze a shot in with his left foot.
The Reds - having already seen a goal disallowed for offside against Peter Crouch - hit back immediately. Gerrard dropped a superbly-judged 40-yard ball in to the area and Cisse volleyed home right-footed into Shaka Hislop's near post.
The impressive Ashton shot inches wide but as Cisse again attempted to beat Hislop first time The Reds ended the first period on top. However, the underdogs almost caught The Reds cold with the second half barely a minute old.
Etherington crossed for Harewood but Reina stood up and blocked with his foot and Benayoun, displayed poise on the rebound, but the Israeli, too, was foiled by the boot of the atoning Spaniard.
Nigel Reo-Coker had been the midfield's best player in the first half but in the second The Reds began to get a measure of the England hopeful and Rafa Benitez's initially hesitant side made their second half intentions plain with The Reds' talisman coming up trumps.
Alonso's deep cross was headed back by Crouch and Gerrard arriving late struck a superb first time shot which left Hislop absolutely helpless and The Reds' support in raptures.
Having threatened to be overrun by Liverpool Alan Pardew's side regained a semblance of composure as the clock ticked past the hour but there was little forewarning that The Hammers would regain the lead in the 64th minute.
As Etherington roamed in central midfield there seemed little danger as the wingman played in Konchesky on the left. The full-back's thoughts were of a cross to either Harewood or Ashton but as the ball left his foot it sailed over the head of Reina and into the far post to add another chapter to the most engaging of finals.
Both managers made changes with 20 minutes to go - Bobby Zamora replacing the tiring Ashton for West Ham, while Benitez, in his side's need to find an equaliser, sprung a surprise by replacing Crouch for the most defensive of defensive-minded midfielders, Dietmar Hamann.
The Hammers, superbly marshalled by Danny Gabbidon, continued to hold out as Liverpool failed to muster a clear opening - substitute Fernando Morientes headed tamely over and in the 88th minute, when Gerrard struck a free kick well over the bar, West Ham may have sensed their name was on the famous trophy.
But the indomitable Gerrard was not to be denied - as the fourth official signalled four minutes of stoppage time, the England international latched on to a loose clearance from West Ham to score a goal of the season contender from fully 35 yards out with the ball arrowing into the bottom left hand corner. It was a sensational end to the 90 minutes which took the match into extra-time.
It was almost a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's show' as extra-time kicked off and, supporters already spoiled by great fare, had to wait seven minutes for the first chance of note - Riise's shot skimming the top of the crossbar.
The 90-minute exertions had clearly taken their toll on both sets of players as cramp set in with Harewood the most severely afflicted.
In the final minute of 30, West Ham were inches away from claiming the most dramatic of winners. Benayoun's deflected cross drew a fingertip save of the highest quality from Reina who pushed the ball on to the inside of a post. Still the danger was not cleared by Hyypia but Harewood could not capitalise and as he screwed his attempt wide Cardiff drew a collective breath and prepared for penalties.
Brazilian Chap
Remarkable game... I mean, Gerrard is unbelievable! The lad is awesome... a massive game, just like FA Cup deserves...
