/ 28 February 2005

Drogba, Kezman lead Chelsea to victory

Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman scored in extra time on Sunday to help Chelsea take the League Cup with a 3-2 win over Liverpool.

Drogba poked the ball in from close range in the 16th minute of extra time from a Glen Johnson throw-in. Kezman added a second goal five minutes later, awkwardly tapping the ball over the line from a Eidur Gudjohnsen cross.

Liverpool pulled a goal back in the 23rd minute of extra time through Antonio Nunez, who headed the ball over Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech in a goalmouth scramble.

Liverpool had gone ahead after just 43 seconds when John Arne Riise scored. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard then scored an own goal in the 78th to push the game into extra time.

It was the first trophy for Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, who took over the club at the beginning of the season.

Mourinho wasn’t there to see the winner — he was sent off after Gerrard’s goal for appearing to incite the crowd. Mourinho put his finger to his mouth as if to tell Liverpool fans behind him to keep quiet. He was then escorted down the tunnel by a match official and watched the rest of the match on television.

It was Chelsea’s first trophy since the 2002 FA Cup. — Sapa-AP