Cisse fires back at critics

Liverpool 3 CSKA Moscow 1 (aet, 1-1 after 90 minutes)

The 24-year-old French striker came off the bench to score twice and make a third for Luis Garcia just when it looked as if the European Super Cup final was heading CSKA Moscow’s way after Daniel Carvalho’s first-half strike.

Rafael Benitez put Cisse on with 15 minutes of normal time to go - but his introduction proved decisive with his pace and power a compelling argument that Liverpool may not be better off with Owen as their first-choice forward instead of him.

CSKA’s gameplan was to try to contain Liverpool and strike on the break, and for most of the match it worked - thanks to Luis Garcia wasting four or five decent chances.

Liverpool were without skipper Steven Gerrard, out with a calf injury, and his replacement Dietmar Hamann contributed to a brisk opening period with a low sidefooted shot from the edge of the box which was well saved by Igor Akinfeev.

Liverpool continued to carve out chances with Fernando Morientes clipping a curling effort a couple of yards wide, then his backheel setting up Garcia only for him to drag his shot past the post. Morientes brought another save out of Akinfeev from 20 yards before CSKA showed the quality that won their first European trophy in May.

Milos Krasic’s trickery earned him space to fire just wide before the UEFA Cup winners took a 28th-minute lead thanks to their Brazilian strike duo. Love sent Carvalho through with John Arne Riise playing him onside and the 22-year-old skipped past Jose Manuel Reina before rolling the ball home.

The stadium DJ tried to raise Liverpool spirits by playing Love Me Do by The Beatles during the break but the Reds continued to struggle with their finishing in the second half.

Reina was almost embarrassed by a dipping free-kick from Yuri Zhirkov, and Liverpool struggled to break down a packed CSKA defence and midfield. Finally, Benitez relented and sent on Cisse - and 120 seconds later he equalised.

There was an element of luck to the goal - and a strong element of handball - after Garcia’s flick-on of Reina’s long kick created uncertainty in the CSKA defence.

An attempted clearance struck the French striker’s hand and looped over goalkeeper Akinfeev, allowing Cisse to follow up and wallop the ball gleefully into the net.

In the 12th minute of extra-time Cisse seized on a defensive error to put Liverpool ahead after a long ball from Hamann.

Sergey Ignashevich made a hash with a clearing header and Cisse crashed a shot straight at Akinfeev, but slipped home the rebound when it fell fortuitously at his feet.

Love could have sent the game to penalties after being set up by Carvalho but Reina did enough to keep him out.

Then Cisse ensured the trophy was Liverpool’s with a curling cross which landed the ball on Garcia’s head - and even he could not miss from close range.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan (Sinama Pongolle 55), Hyypia, Riise (Cisse 79), Luis Garcia, Alonso (Sissoko 71), Hamann, Josemi, Morientes, Carragher, Zenden.

CSKA MOSCOW: Akinfeev, Ignashevich, Alexei Berezutsky, Vasili Berezutsky, Ordia (Gusev 90), Daniel Carvalho, Vagner Love, Krasic (Dudu 85), Zhirkov (Semberas 66), Aldonin, Rahimic.

Subs Not Used: Mandrykin, Samodin. Booked: Rahimic. Goals: Daniel Carvalho 28.

Attendance: 80,000

Referee: Rene Temmink (Holland).

Coca-Cola Football League Championship: QPR 0 Sheff Wed 0 Coca-Cola Football League One: Scunthorpe 1 Southend 0.