Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina has saved three penalties for Liverpool in their penalty shoot-out against West Ham United in the FA Cup final, to win the coveted trophy for the current European champions.

An own goal from Jamie Carragher and Dean Ashton's toe-poke saw the Hammers take advantage of a dreadful first-half display from goalkeeper Reina, although Djibril Cisse scored a wonderful volley to bring Liverpool back into the game just before half-time.

Steven Gerrard then scored the equaliser for 2-2 before Paul Konchesky played a cross which caught Reina off his line to put the London side back in front.

However, West Ham’s celebrations ended when, moments after the fourth official had signalled four minutes of injury-time, Gerrard smashed home an absolutely stunning 30-yard strike to send the game into extra-time.

The game went into extra-time with the scoreline 3-3 and, after 30 minutes of a tired and cramp-ridden extra-time, in the dying minutes, Reina made a fingertip save from West Ham's excellent, but unfortunate defender Anton Ferdinand, tipping the ball onto the post, which gave a massive boost of confidence to the Spaniard when it came to the shoot-out.

In the penalty shoot-out the Spanish keeper, who is second in line for the No.1 shirt for Spain after Iker Casillas, made three terrific saves to win the game for The Reds.

The Spaniard saved spot-kicks from Bobby Zamora, Paul Konchesky and finally Anton Ferdinand to give the win to Liverpool.

West Ham were the dominant force throughout the first-half, and, at the end of the day, deserved to win the game in normal time.

Unfortunately for The Hammer’s, Gerrard’s two strikes, and the goalkeeping of Reina - who now has staked a bigger claim to be the Spanish No. 1 in Luis Aragones’ World Cup squad (to be named by Monday) – gave the East London team a miserable trip home from Cardiff.

"It was an absoultely crazy game...but the important thing is that we got the win for Liverpool," said Reina after the match.

Reina also said of his last minute save: "[It was] the most important of the game, but I am very dissapointed about the first two, and I want to improve"

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