FA Cup: Reds end Wycombe dream

As one dream died in a blaze of glory, another lived on as Liverpool beat Wycombe 2-1 to move a step closer to their cup treble.

Liverpool are in their second domestic cup final of the season, and a hair's breadth from a European final too, while brave, defiant Wycombe had their hearts broken, if not their spirits.

It took two goals in the final 12 minutes at Villa Park, from first Emile Heskey and then Robbie Fowler, for Liverpool to finally get their noses in front against the gamest of opponents from the depths of the Second Division.

Wycombe just refused to let their dream slip away, and an 88th minute strike from Keith Ryan - in front of the thousands of delirious Wanderers fans - set up a dramatic finish.

Wycombe threw every man forward and had Liverpool desperately on the ropes at the end.

But the fantasy was not to be. And to be fair the right side are now due to face Arsenal in Cardiff.

Wycombe's only on-target shot was that Ryan effort, while Liverpool dug deep into seemingly bottomless reserves of strength to claw their way to the Millennium Stadium.

Nobody will forget little Wycombe. They gave everything and were never for one moment embarrassed by the occasion.

The greatest respect was shown by Gerard Houllier at the end. He marched into the mud-bath of a pitch to seek out Lawrie Sanchez to shake his hand. The Frenchman knew only too well just how far Wycombe had pushed his men.

Wycombe's boys were taking a fully deserved standing ovation as Liverpool left the pitch to the side who had been so valiant and got within touching distance of becoming the first side from the third level of English soccer to reach the FA Cup final.

The fantasy of the cup, and his quarter-final winner at Leicester, still did not get goal hero Roy Essandoh into the starting line-up, as Wycombe set about Liverpool with an assured confidence.

Liverpool, who had brought in Christian Ziege for his first start in six game sand just days after he had criticised Gerard Houllier's team selections, looked at times like they were playing on auto pilot.

But that just was not good enough for such a match against such a team, whose whole style is based on effort, sweat and determination.

Nick Barmby, Gary McAllister and Robbie Fowler - none of whom started in Barcelona on Thursday in the UEFA Cup semi-final first leg - also got into Liverpool's starting line-up.

Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey were rested on the bench, with Tuesday's Premiership trip to Ipswich no doubt in mind.

And maybe that was the problem, if not an excuse. Liverpool have so much on their plate they cannot concentrate all their efforts on one aim.

For Wycombe it really was the day of dreams and emotions. Boss Lawrie Sanchez and midfielder Steve Brown had their sons as mascots for the day and the Wanderers had their massed ranks on the Holte End behind them at the start. A joyous, flag-waving army, willing their heroes on.

Liverpool faced the ultimate hiding to nothing, surely a team worth over £100m could not fail to a team worth £1million.

But Wycombe had every intention of defying history to achieve that! They were all about tackling, covering and the quick and accurate delivery of balls forward.

Ryan's 25 yard lob that could have embarrassed Sander Westerveld drifted wide, but Wycombe keeper Martin Taylor three times early on had to save smartly from crosses from the right as the combined threat of Fowler, Michael Owen and Barmby threatened with every forward move.

But Wycombe were showing no stage fright. They were soon into their rhythm and showing the organisation, particularly in defence, that had got them to this unlikely stage.

Owen enraged Wycombe by going down far too easily in the box, Chris Vinnicombe having barely touched the England striker after 23 minutes.

Owen was surrounded by three defenders and had to wrestle his way clear as referee Paul Durkin waved play on.

Liverpool were losing out in the tackling stakes, nobody got a second to dwell on the ball. But that attitude cost Brown a 27th minute booking for catching Sami Hyypia late.

But any free-kick that Liverpool conceded was fraught with problems, and one curled in by Michael Simpson saw Paul McCarthy's backward flick held by Westerveld. Not much doubt where Sanchez got that set play from, a carbon copy of his FA Cup final winner against the Anfield men back in 1988.

Liverpool chances were few, but Owen should have scored on 32 minutes when Barmby played him clear in the box.

But Taylor's outstanding plunge at his feet saved the day.

Liverpool's play lacked the pace and urgency needed to combat Wycombe's dogged covering and work rate, and poor passing did not help them and Wanderers grew in confidence.

Andy Rammell underlined the dangers for a casual Liverpool when he almost got a touch to a 41st minute left wing ball from Vinnicombe, and the problems were all too obvious for Liverpool as they struggled to impose themselves on the game.

Liverpool's best chance fell to Ziege seconds before the break when his overhead shot from Hyypia's header flashed inches wide of Taylor's left hand post.

Barmby, who had taken a painful ankle knock in the first half, lasted just six minutes of the second period before he was forced off and replaced by Gerrard.

Liverpool attempted to quicken the tempo, but still the final pass was not good enough and the likes of Jamie Bates, in particular, were quick to pick off possession when slackness, and there was plenty of that, crept into Liverpool's play.

It was all pretty uncompromising too. Jason Cousins was booked on 55 minutes for a tackle from behind on an increasingly frustrated Owen, and before the re-start Essandoh finally got into the action in place of Rammell.

Liverpool's bench were becoming increasingly angry with the treatment being metered out to Owen, who was spending more and more time flat on his face!

Time was passing, Wycombe were still in it, and the last thing Liverpool wanted was extra-time.

And Houllier opted for another striker, Heskey coming on in place of Ziege after 61 minutes.

But Wycombe continued to present a desire and belligerence, to underline they were not going to give up their once in a lifetime chance of glory. Liverpool were going to have to take it from them.

Liverpool slowly increased pressure. Heskey's fine header from Jamie Carragher's cross was saved superbly to his right by Taylor, and seconds later Gerrard put Owen clear only for the keeper to make another brave stop.

Finally, after 78 minutes, Liverpool got their breakthrough. Gerrard's ball in from the right was powered past Taylor by Heskey with a cracking header.

It had taken a long time, but Liverpool had managed to find something of quality.

While Wycombe deserve all the praise, it was a lead that was hard to argue with.

Danny Murphy came on for a bedraggled Owen on 80 minutes as Sanchez threw on Guy Whittingham and Dave Carroll for Brown and Ben Townsend.

But before those changes could have any effect, Fowler clinched Liverpool's final place with a brilliant, curling free-kick from 20 yards that soared into the top corner.

But still Wycombe would not give in. Two minutes from time, with Wycombe throwing men forward from all angles, Ryan got onto a knock down from Taylor's long kick to scoop the ball over the helpless Westerveld to set up a dramatic finale.

Four minutes of injury time did nothing for the Liverpool team's heart rates as Wycombe fought for their dream.

Gerrard missed a glorious chance in the dying seconds when put through by Murphy, but that was the last kick of a dramatic game, and Liverpool could breath a sign of relief.