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Owen's Brilliance Takes Liverpool to FA Cup Champion
Michael Owen scored twice in the final seven minutes to earn Liverpool their second trophy of the season at the FA Cup final by beating Arsenal 2-1 from one goal down at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.
Liverpool had claimed the League Cup earlier in February and can claim a third on Wednesday if they beat Spanish side Alaves in the UEFA Cup final in Dortmund, Germany.
Owen, who is in a superb form lifting his tally to eight goals in four matches, scored two fabulous goals to pull off a win that looked far from likely when Sweden's Fredrik Ljungberg had netted 18 minutes from the whistle.
The 21-year-old English international struck first in the 83rd minute reacted first to a corner from substitute Gary McAllister and five minutes later latched on to a long through ball from Patrik Berger before coolly slotting past England goalkeeper David Seaman.
Houllier's Arsenal counterpart and fellow-Frenchman Arsene Wenger was left to contemplate a trophyless season which not even a guaranteed Champions League spot could act as consolation.
Played in by fellow midfielder Robert Pires, Ljungberg calmly rounded goalkeeper Sander Westerveld before rifling the ball home in the 72nd minute to give Arsenal a deserved lead.
The match might have been finished as a contest two minutes later, but despite having a double bite of the cherry France striker Thierry Henry could not force the ball home.
In an otherwise dull first half Arsenal should have taken the lead in the 17th minute through Henry in what was the only clear- cut chance in a tight first half.
The France forward rounded Westerveld, but his shot from outside the right post was blocked by the arm of Swiss defender Stephane Henchoz, covering back on the goal line.
Neither referee Steve Dunn or his assistant on the right touchline signaled for a penalty and what was more remarkable was that Arsenal did not get a corner.
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