Reina's nightmare
Pepe Reina's FA Cup final nightmare struck again — but there was no winners’ medal to console him.
In 2006, the Liverpool keeper had a shocker against West Ham but then produced three saves in the penalty shootout to help the Reds lift the famous trophy.
Yesterday, the curse struck again when he dropped an horrendous clanger for Chelsea’s first.
And he was not too clever for their second, either.
Reina committed the cardinal sin of being beaten at his near post by Ramires and then could have got down quicker when Didier Drogba shot across him.
Not that the Kop stopper was the only one who failed to cut the mustard, with Jay Spearing and Jose Enrique most at fault for the Reds.
Spearing has been reliable ever since Lucas picked up a knee injury in November’s Carling Cup win at Chelsea, ending his season.
But he gave the ball away for the opener and then let Frank Lampard spin away from him for No 2, while Enrique, who has been the answer to the problem left-back position, had his worst game for the club.
Petr Cech’s stunning save to deny Andy Carroll was the defining moment and, whether it crossed the line or not, he deserves praise.
And the fact Reina almost fumbled in a last-gasp third from former team-mate Raul Meireles summed up his — and Liverpool’s — final. - www.thesun.co.uk
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