Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton celebrates after his penalty heroics
Cardiff City keeper Tom Heaton proved the penalty shoot-out hero to inspire the Bluebirds to the Carling Cup final.
Heaton saved Crystal Palace's first two penalties from Jermaine Easter and Sean Scannell to book the home team's fourth trip to Wembley in as many years.
Cardiff trailed 1-0 from the first leg but Palace's Anthony Gardner headed into his own net to level the tie.
The home team then dominated but failed to turn it into goals, even when Eagles captain Patrick McCarthy was sent off.
Cardiff City's Wembley run
- 2008 FA Cup semi-final: Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff
- 2008 FA Cup final: Cardiff 0-1 Portsmouth
- 2010 Play-off final: Blackpool 3-2 Cardiff
- 2012 Carling Cup final: Cardiff v Man City/Liverpool
Palace defended bravely after McCarthy's dismissal for a second yellow card on 78 minutes, holding firm during extra time.
But, having been denied by the woodwork three times, Cardiff held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out to reach their first League Cup final and book a Wembley meeting with either Liverpool or Manchester City on 26 February.
They got off to a bad start in the shoot-out when Cardiff top scorer Kenny Miller blazed his side's first kick over.
But Heaton, Cardiff's second-choice keeper who has been preferred to David Marshall throughout their Carling Cup run, turned the tide back in the home side's favour.
LAST FIVE SECOND-TIER TEAMS IN LEAGUE CUP FINAL
2001: Birmingham lost 5-4 on penalties to Liverpool
2000: Tranmere lost 2-1 to Leicester
1998: Middlesbrough lost 2-0 after extra-time to Chelsea
1995: Bolton lost 2-1 to Liverpool
1991: Sheffield Wednesday beat Manchester United 1-0
He brilliantly saved from Easter and then read Scannell's effort too, after Craig Conway had slotted Cardiff's second spot-kick.
Rudy Gestede and Peter Whittingham put Cardiff 3-1 ahead, either side of Mile Jedinak firing into Heaton's bottom right corner to get Palace going.
But Jonathan Parr's nerve failed him, as he too missed the target to ensure that a tense all-Championship semi-final between Malky Mackay's third-placed Cardiff and Dougie Freedman's 14th-placed Palace went to form.
Having started with attacking intent, Cardiff levelled the tie after just seven minutes.
Mackay delighted with Cardiff display
Darcy Blake played the ball into the right channel for the onrushing Don Cowie, the Scottish midfielder wrapped his foot around the ball to send in a dangerous cross and Gardner, Palace's goal hero from the first leg, instinctively lunged at the ball but headed into his own net.
Palace keeper Julian Speroni then beat away a fierce shot from Whittingham, before Aron Gunnarsson ballooned a header over and Miller slid just wide before going even closer in time added on at the end of the first half, controlling with his back to goal at the edge of the area before spinning in one fluid movement to crash a left-foot shot against the post.
Palace came out hard after the break but it was the same story, Whittingham again firing wide before bringing the best out of Speroni, who tipped over his free-kick.
PENALTY SHOOT-OUT
0-0: Cardiff's Miller fires over
0-0: Palace's Easter's shot saved
1-0: Cardiff's Conway scores
1-0: Palace's Scannell's shot saved
2-0: Cardiff's Gestede scores
2-1: Palace's Jedinak scores
3-1: Cardiff's Whittingham scores
3-1: Palace's Parr shoots over
McCarthy then came to the Eagles' rescue moments later, clearing off the line when Anthony Gerrard peeled away to head a free-kick past Speroni.
But the Palace skipper was to get his marching orders 12 minutes from the end of normal time when he scythed through the back of Miller, his second yellow card, having already been booked for an earlier foul on the same player.
Cowie had a late chance to win it in normal time before being sacrificed when Mackay opted to take advantage of the extra man.
He brought on another attacker in Gestede, who laid the ball off perfectly in the second period of extra time for Filip Kiss, only for the Slovakian midfielder to clip the top of the bar with his rising shot.
Freedman lauds Palace desire
Then came the best chance to avoid going to penalties when Gunnarsson lost his marker but, from four yards out, he somehow contrived to head against the bar with the net gaping.
Heaton had the final word, however, to ensure that Cardiff would not regret all their missed chances, allowing the Welsh side to go through to contest their third major Wembley final in five years.
(BBC Glasgow )
QPR and Chelsea issue fans warning in bid to lower tensions
Page last updated at 13:44 GMT, Wednesday, 25 January 2012
QPR and Chelsea have said they will take action against anyone using discriminatory language during their FA Cup tie on Saturday.
The match will be the first time the two clubs have met since Chelsea's John Terry was charged with racially abusing Anton Ferdinand in October's derby.
A QPR and Chelsea joint statement said: "Discrimination has no place in football or society."
On Tuesday, QPR encouraged Ferdinand to shake hands with Terry before the tie.
QPR and Chelsea joint statementA local derby is always a special occasion and this weekend's FA Cup tie is a unique opportunity to show the world that hatred has no place in our game, our clubs, or our communities
Blues manager Andre Villas-Boas has appealed for calm ahead of the game at QPR's Loftus Road ground.
The statement added: "Both clubs enjoy fantastic support. However we would remind fans that, while we want to hear their passion, it's a fact that hatred and abuse is not what being a fan of QPR or Chelsea is about.
"The clubs will work together with the police to ensure that anyone using discriminatory or inflammatory language is identified and that the strongest possible action is taken against them.
"We would urge fans witnessing any form of abuse to report it to a matchday steward.
"Let's make Saturday's match a celebration of football.
"A local derby is always a special occasion and this weekend's FA Cup tie is a unique opportunity to show the world that hatred has no place in our game, our clubs, or our communities."
The Chelsea skipper was charged after his side's 1-0 league defeat at Loftus Road on 23 October.
The England captain, who denies the allegations, is due to attend a hearing at West London Magistrates Court on 1 February.
Saturday's fourth-round game will kick off at noon, partly on the advice of police.
(BBC Football )
Mario Balotelli could be forced out of English football - agent
Page last updated at 20:36 GMT, Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Balotelli scored a match-winning penalty after tangling with Parker
Mario Balotelli's agent has warned the striker could quit English football if he continues to receive what he sees as unfair treatment.
Balotelli, 21, is facing a four-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by the Football Association.
The City forward appeared to stamp on Scott Parker before scoring a late penalty to secure Manchester City's 3-2 win over Tottenham on Sunday.
"I think he feels persecuted; he cannot go on like that," said Mino Raiola.
Raiola on Balotelli's Parker challengeHe didn't do anything on purpose, he was clearly pushed and was out of balance and put down his feet
Agent Raiola added on BBC Radio 5 live: "We had a very clear image of his career at the beginning and I told the press openly Mario will have to stay at Manchester City for at least three of four years, helping the club on this important project and grow as a man and a player.
"Obviously if he's being banned every three or four games for one reason or another we cannot go on like that and there needs to be an end to that.
"So if that's the case and English referees and the English FA would like Mario to go out of England then we would take that seriously in consideration, even if that's not and was not our intention.
"He [Mario] is very disappointed about the decision. He loves playing in England. He keeps asking 'why always me, why does it always come back to me?' He loves playing in England and I think he feels persecuted."
Balotelli joined City in a £24m deal from Inter Milan in the summer of 2010 but has been involved in a number of controversies on and off the pitch.
He has been sent off three times, was unable to continue after suffering an allergy to the grass in Kiev, threw a dart at a reserve team player and escaped injury after a firework was let off in his house.
Raiola is adamant that his player did not deliberately hurt Parker in the win against Spurs, insisting that TV replays back up his claim.
"He didn't do anything on purpose, he was clearly pushed and was out of balance and put down his feet," said the agent.
"That's also clear in the slow-motion replays."
Raiola had earlier suggested he felt there might be a conspiracy against foreign players such as Balotelli and City team-mate Vincent Kompany, who was also suspended for four games earlier this month.
He told Italian reporters: "I want to be balanced but I'm worried because when English players are involved in more serious things, nothing happens, whereas when foreigners are involved, such as Balotelli or Kompany, they were treated harder.
Appeals are futile - Platt
"If I find that there is something strange against Balotelli, my duty is to protect and then take him away.
"In this case I would speak with City, I'd ask them Balotelli's price and would look for the best team for him, as there are only six or seven teams he can play for."
Manchester City have yet to decide whether to appeal against the violent conduct charge, but first-team coach David Platt hinted on Tuesday that the club would reluctantly accept the decision.
Balotelli has until 1800 GMT on Wednesday to respond to the charge.
Earlier this month the FA rejected City's appeal against Kompany's controversial sending-off in their FA Cup third-round defeat by Manchester United.
Kompany was handed a four-match ban for his second red card of the season.
(BBC Football )
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