Crystal Palace relived the glories of their FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool 11 years ago last night as the first division side pulled off an unlikely first-leg victory.
Although the Premiership team scored a late away goal, they paid the price for their earlier profligacy in their pursuit of a place in the final against Birmingham or Ipswich and their first trophy in six years.
The day had started badly for Palace when the FA charged them with bringing the game into disrepute for their players' part in a December 26th brawl at Gillingham.
They had already been fined £20,000 after a 15-man skirmish during a game against Nottingham Forest in August and this time the club face a £150,000 fine if found guilty This is not the sort of fighting spirit that Palace need as they try to pull themselves out of the mess left by the previous owner Mark Goldberg.
The resurgence of the south London club under their new young millionaire owner, Simon Jordan, has been built on commitment and the new confidence instilled by the returning manager Alan Smith.
The potential of his young side is such that they have already seen off two Premiership teams, Leicester and Sunderland, in this competition. So they approached the visit of Liverpool with less trepidation that would be expected from a team sitting below mid-table in the First Division.
However, Liverpool cut open their defence early on and spurned two clear-cut chances in the first 22 minutes. First, Emile Heskey beat Dean Austin down the right and found Michael Owen on his own in front of goal. Somehow the England striker ballooned the ball over from seven yards. Then Heskey was embarrassed as he fired over from an identical position after being put clear by Steven Gerrard's through ball. The disgruntled Robbie Fowler, left in Liverpool amid growing rumours of an impending move, would have been excused a wry smile.
Despite the absence of the midfielder Tommy Black and the experienced Neil Ruddock because of suspensions, Palace's undeniable spirit soon kicked in and they began to threaten the Liverpool goal.
They almost took the lead on 26 minutes when Mikael Forssell found Clinton Morrison in a central position on the edge of the area. The striker has been a revelation since he was removed from the transfer list earlier this season and his bullet of a shot seemed destined to succeed until diverted by Sander Westerveld's flying save.
But the danger to Liverpool was not over. From the corner Sami Hyypia had to clear off the line from Forssell and Westerveld saved the follow-up shot from the Finnish striker on loan from Chelsea. Palace were now giving as good as they got but the underdogs still had to be careful.
A careless pass from Hayden Mullins eight minutes into the second half allowed Liverpool to show their speed on the break. Gerrard's shot was poor but seconds later indecision by the Chinese defender Fan Zhiyi let Owen through and only a block by the onrushing keeper Aleksandrs Kolinko denied Liverpool the lead.
A minute later Palace took the lead in spectacular fashion. The Latvian Andrejs Rubins picked the ball up on the left of the area and from about 16 yards uncorked an unstoppable shot past the despairing Westerveld into the far top corner.
So Liverpool digested conclusive proof that they now had a game on their hands. They responded by replacing the hapless Owen with the new signing Jari Litmanen. On 77 minutes Palace, amazingly, increased their lead. A cross came in from the left, Markus Babbel swung at it and missed. But Morrison swung at and connected, firing past Westerveld from 12 yards.
A minute later Liverpool earned a lifeline for the second leg when Litmanen reached the byline and pulled the ball back for his fellow substitute Vladimir Smicer to convert from close range.
Crystal palace: Kolinko, Austin, Harrison, Zhiyi, Rubins, Rodger, Smith, Thomson, Morrison, Mullins, Forssell. Subs Not Used: Gregg, Gray, Carlisle, Frampton, Pollock. Goals: Rubins 56, Morrison 77.
Liverpool: Westerveld, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Biscan, Babbel, Gerrard, Murphy (Litmanen 64), Barmby (Hamann 77), Heskey, Owen (Smicer 64). Subs Not Used: Nielsen, McAllister. Goals: Smicer 78. Att: 25,933.
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).
