'It's a mad one' - Caoimhin Kelleher scores winning penalty as Kepa switch backfires on Blues
Liverpool's Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher (R) watches as Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga's (L) penalty goes above the bar in a penalty shoot-out during the English League Cup final football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium, north-west London on February 27, 2022. - Liverpool won the match 11-10 on penalties after extra time. . (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
The first 21 penalties were all expertly converted including by the Cork youngster, who made it 11-10 when he slotted past opposite number Kepa, who had been brought on for the shootout.
Alas for the Chelsea man, he skied his effort and Liverpool lifted the cup.
"It’s a mad one," Kelleher told Sky Sports, afterwards. "I thought I'd save one, I got close to a few. I forgot I scored the winning one.
"The penalties from the lads were class, I’m just happy to score."
Things you love to see 💚pic.twitter.com/A4wE5gjpIR
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 27, 2022
Asked if he had channeled the striking skills he developed in his youth at Ringmahon Rangers, Kelleher said: "I think it was more hit and hope.
"All the penalties, to be fair, were very high quality, thankfully we were able to win.
"Over the whole game a draw was s fair result."
Asked what Jurgen Klopp had said to him before the medal presentation, Kelleher added:
"He just said 'well done for scoring the winning penalty. "And he said there’s a wall at Liverpool with all the goalies who have won cups, and he said now's your chance to go on that."
— Ringmahon Rangers (@RingmahonRanger) February 27, 2022
In a thrilling and absorbing final, both sides had goals ruled out for offside in normal time, Joel Matip falling foul of Virgil Van Dijk's transgression and substitute Romelu Lukaku marginally straying ahead.
Extra time could not settle it and it ultimately came down to the goalkeepers, but not in the way usually imagined in a shoot-out, as Kelleher - who started after manager Jurgen Klopp kept faith with him for cup competitions - was successful from the spot and Kepa, who had barely touched the ball after coming on, was not.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
