Gracious Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said the FA Cup final was a match no team deserved to lose after his side beat West Ham in a penalty shoot-out.


Steven Gerrard scored a 90th-minute equaliser to tie the scores at 3-3 and Benitez said: "It was difficult to say we deserved to win or the other team.

"It was a magnificent final. We knew that they could score goals but that we could also.

"We needed to keep going but after 63 games it was really difficult."

West Ham led 2-0 after 27 minutes before goals from Djibril Cisse and Gerrard pulled Liverpool level. A cross-cum-shot from Paul Konchesky seemed to be taking the Hammers to victory before Gerrard, suffering from cramp, smashed a spectacular last-minute equaliser.

The match went to penalties and goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who was at fault for at least one West Ham goal, made three penalty saves.

Reds skipper Steven Gerrard said: "West Ham were brilliant, they gave us a really good game but we had a never-say-die attitude and we stuck in there," said Gerrard.