Lawro: 'A marvellous end'

BBC Sport's Mark Lawrenson reflects on a breathtaking finish to the FA Cup final in Cardiff.

What a marvellous end to the FA Cup final. The closing stages were sensational.

I didn't think that it was a great final but the last 20 minutes certainly made up for the previous 70.

Arsenal could and should have put the game beyond doubt long before Liverpool equalised, but while the game was only 1-0 you could never rule out Gerard Houllier's side.

And when you have a certain Michael Owen in your team then anything is possible.

Who needs Wembley

Mark Lawrenson

He took his second goal brilliantly but, given the form that he is in at the moment, it shouldn't surprise us.

It tells you how good a player he is when you consider he had three chances and scored twice.

He wasn't bothered by the one that he missed but then that is what you get with Michael Owen and that is what he's paid for.

Liverpool didn't play particularly well and Arsenal were the better team but the men from Anfield stuck at it and it came good for them.

They rode their luck as you have to when you win anything and Arsenal paid the penalty for missing chances and again not getting enough players into the box.

Fantastic hosts

And who needs Wembley after the marvellous way that Cardiff has hosted the final.

It has been absolutely brilliant in the city since Friday and I don't think anybody can have any complaints about it is as a venue.

But, most importantly for Liverpool, this is hopefully the second leg of a remarkable cup treble.

They will go into Wednesday's Uefa Cup final in great spirit now with everybody lifted.

Alaves are very much an attacking side and I think that will suit Liverpool who are getting used to playing on the counter attack.