Liverpool win European SuperCup
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-27 09:38

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) -- Djibril Cisse came off the bench to force an equalizer and then scored in extra time as Liverpool beat CSKA Moscow 3-1 to win the European SuperCup on Friday.

Captain Jamie Carragher holds the SuperCup that Liverpool had last won in 2001.[Getty Image]

France striker Cisse scored two minutes after coming on in the 81st minute at Stade Louis II. He also slotted in from an angle after seeing his shot blocked in the 103rd.

Cisse set up Liverpool's third goal, crossing perfectly from the right for Luis Garcia to head home in the 109th.

Daniel Carvalho put UEFA Cup winner Moscow ahead against the run of play in the 28th.

"It was tough for us at the beginning, but we managed to come through it," said Cisse. "Scoring two goals tonight in a final, for sure it will increase my confidence. There has been a lot of speculation in the last week saying I would leave the club. But that is not the discussion I had with the boss. I have signed a contract two years ago and I still have three years left."

Champions League titleholder Liverpool now has 11 European trophies, and four in the last four years.

Liverpool won the SuperCup in 1977 and 2001, and has five European Cups ('77, '78, '81 '84 and '05) and three UEFA Cups ('73, '76 and '01).

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez would not say whether Cisse will stay at Liverpool, or whether Michael Owen will arrive from Real Madrid but hinted both options remained open.

He praised Cisse, who has attracted interest from Marseille.

"The game was ready for Cisse in the second half, we needed fresh legs and he is a good player," Benitez said. "We are happy to win this trophy."

Moscow took the lead when Elvir Rahimic's pass caught out Liverpool's defense and Carvalho beat the offside trap to fire past goalkeeper Jose Reina.

Garcia, one of five Spaniards in Liverpool's starting lineup, missed a good chance to equalize in the 36th when he curled a shot narrowly wide.

Benitez selected Garcia to play just behind Spain striker Fernando Morientes. Steven Gerrard sat out, so defender Jamie Carragher wore the captain's armband.

The second half started with Liverpool holding the ball well but posing a limited threat. Garcia's backheel enabled Josemi to line up a fierce shot from 20 yards which went narrowly wide.

Frustrated, the Liverpool fans resorted to chanting "Michael Owen, there's only one Michael Owen." Owen is hoping to return to Liverpool, where he scored 158 goals.

Those chants soon turned to cheers when Cisse profited from a fortunate rebound that looped over Moscow 'keeper Igor Akinfeev, presenting Cisse with a simple tap-in.

His pace and strength proved too much for Moscow's tired defense.

Lineups
Liverpool: Jose Reina; Josemi, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher (captain), John Arne Riise (Djibril Cisse, 79); Steve Finnan (Florent Sinama-Pongolle, 56), Xabi Alonso (Mohamed Sissoko, 72), Dietmar Hamann, Boudewijn Zenden; Luis Garcia; Fernando Morientes.

CSKA Moscow: Igor Akinfeev; Vasily Berezutskiy, Sergey Ignashevich (captain), Alexey Berezutskiy; Yuri Zhirkov (Deividas Semberas, 66), Evgeny Aldonin, Elvir Rahimic, Odiah Chidi (Rolan Gusev, 89); Daniel Carvalho, Vagner Love, Milos Krasic (Dudu, 83).

Referee: Rene Temmink, Netherlands.

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