Cisse brace gives Reds Super Cup

Liverpool 3 CSKA Moscow 1 (aet, score at 90 mins 1-1)

Djibril Cisse, whose Anfield future is in doubt, won the European Super Cup for Liverpool tonight.

With Liverpool’s fans chanting for Michael Owen’s return and boss Rafael Benitez believed to be preparing to sell the French striker, Cisse came off the substitutes’ bench to score twice – with Moscow just nine minutes from victory - before creating the third in injury time for Luis Garcia.

It was another final, another comeback and another European trophy for Liverpool and although it was not of Istanbul proportions, they still had dig deep to find the strength in their ninth competitive game of the season to achieve their victory here.

Twice in the opening minutes Luis Garcia should have scored.

His mobile, floating role saw him find space at will, and after Dietmar Hamann had forced a low early save from Igor Akinfeev the European Cup holders squandered opportunities to take control.

First Hamann lifted a neat pass over the defence for Luis Garcia to ghost into the area unattended – but his first touch was poor and it allowed Akinfeev the chance to claim the ball.

Three minutes later Zenden’s fine crossfield ball found Luis Garcia racing in from the right, he beat a defender but then lifted his 18-yard shot over the bar.

The game was being played at a surprisingly high tempo considering the heat, with CSKA sharp in the challenge and quick to exploit gaps with Brazilian striker Vagner Love.

But Liverpool could have taken the lead in the 19th minute when Fernando Morientes’ neat backheel set up Luis Garcia again, but the effort flew past a post.

CSKA’s first genuine chance came in the 26th minute when Serbian midfielder Milos Krasic got away from Sami Hyypia on the left, cut inside and sent a low drive skidding past Jose Reina’s far post.

Two minutes later Liverpool were not so fortunate as Vagner Love’s pass allowed Daniel Carvalho to beat the offside trap and he raced into the box and headed left before squeezing a well placed shot past Reina’s dive and into the far corner

It was a classic attack on the break, similar to the way the Russians won the UEFA Cup on Sporting Lisbon’s home ground.

Liverpool hit back with a flurry of crosses, but once again it was Luis Garcia who wasted a glorious chance to equalise in the 35th minute, firing wide from 15 yards.

After Hamann had shot wide from 20 yards, Zenden was booked for a 37th-minute foul on Odiah Chidi, but the chances kept coming for Liverpool, with Luis Garcia seeing a difficult flicked header from Finnan’s cross fly wide.

Liverpool opened the second period with Josemi charging forward and firing wildly over when he had Finnan in an unmarked position to his right.

Josemi then went into Dutch referee Rene Temmink’s book when he stood his ground in front of Krasic as he raced down the left.

From the free-kick, Yuri Zhirkov sent a dipping effort just over the bar.

Luis Garcia’s back heel then sent Josemi in on a run, his shot dipping over from the edge of the box.

On 55 minutes, Sinama-Pongolle came on for Finnan with Luis Garcia moving to the right and the little Frenchman partnering Morientes.

CSKA were still dangerous on the break, but Liverpool continued to come forward even if there was no real flow and zest about their play.

Zenden was the next to fire over, driving his shot from the left over the bar, before Moscow sent on Deividas Semberas for the limping Zhirkov just before the midway mark in the second half.

Luis Garcia headed over from a John Arne Riise cross before Liverpool sent on Mohamed Sissoko for Xabi Alonso on the 70th minute.

Hyypia was booked for a 71st minute foul on Carvalho before Vagner Love caught Liverpool cold as they appealed for offside and only a fine saving tackle from Josemi saved the day.

Djibril Cisse took over from Riise on 78 minutes and he soon won a corner that ended with Carragher and Luis Garcia both having half chances to score.

Liverpool fans had been chanting “there’s only one Michael Owen” and then Cisse’s name before what many believe is a player Benitez wants to sell, pulled the Reds level.

Cisse put the ball in the net on 81 minutes when Reina’s long ball was flicked on by Luis Garcia.

The ball hit Sergey Ignashevich from Cisse’s first touch and bounced for the Frenchman to volley into an empty net. It had connected with Cisse’s hand on its way in but the referee let the goal stand.

CSKA sent on substitutes Dudu and Rolan Gusev in the closing minutes as the game headed for extra time.

Hyypia’s ball to Cisse almost avoided the extra half hour, but the striker - having forced his way past his marker – fired straight at Akinfeev.

Sinama-Pongolle was booked for pulling back Dudu in the 95th minute – and five minutes later the Brazilian was cautioned himself for a foul on the imposing Sissoko.

Seven minutes later Cisse did it again for Liverpool.

Reina’s long ball found Hamann, who lifted a fine ball into the path of the striker, who saw his first shot charged down but was on hand to stab the rebound into the net.

In the second period of extra time, Reina made a fine reflex save when Vagner Love forced his way into the box and firing in a close range effort.

And Cisse, having scored two, then set up a third goal which sealed Liverpool’s success.

Cisse scampered down the right, looked up and planted the perfect cross onto the head of Luis Garcia to nod the ball past an exposed Akinfeev.