Steven Gerrards cousin misses final shot in Carling Cup shootout, gets consoled by Steven Gerrard

Cardiff shocked just about everyone by recovering from the loss of their 16th minute lead over Liverpool in the Carling Cup final and then falling behind in extra time to push the match to a shootout with an equalizer of their own in the 118th minute. Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton then came up with another shock by stopping Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard's first penalty of the shootout.

Cardiff wouldn't capitalize on Liverpool's two failed attempts in the first two rounds, however, and with the Reds up 3-2, Cardiff needed defender Anthony Gerrard -- Steven's younger cousin -- to score in order to stay alive. Instead, the 26-year-old who was on the bench for the first 99 minutes of the match skidded his shot wide of the post to give Liverpool their first trophy in six years.

Familiar with Carling Cup heartbreak (Steven recently said he was "suicidal" after Liverpool lost to Chelsea in the 2005 final, a match in which he scored an own goal), Steven immediately went to speak to his devastated cousin after the miss before celebrating with his own teammates.

Following the celebrations, he told the press how bittersweet the situation was. From ITV:

Steven Gerrard told BBC1: "It's always cruel when it comes to penalties, but there has to be a loser.

"It was always going to be that one of us was sad and one celebrating. I've got mixed emotions. Obviously I'm delighted to win the cup for our supporters, but I feel for Anthony and Cardiff.

"It doesn't matter what I say to him - he's going to be down. I'll be there for him and all the family will be behind him."

! Stevie G wasn't the only Liverpool player concerned with his opponents, though. With Cardiff looking to take a quick free kick and mount a last second attack at the end of regular time, Jamie Carragher decided to take the time to give Cardiff's Don Cowie a piggyback ride while keeping him away from the ball, which Carragher fell on top of and before trying to make love to it.

Carragher somehow wasn't booked for time wasting, but he did discover that he could have a great second career as a transportation device that gets you to your destination much slower than you want it to once he retires from football.