Kewell's World Cup plans suffer a setback

Harry Kewell’s World Cup preparations have received a setback, after he was forced out of another major final with the reoccurrence of his groin injury that has plagued him for several years.

Harry Kewell-s World Cup preparations have received a setback, after he was forced out of another major final with the reoccurrence of his groin injury that has plagued him for several years.

The Qantas Socceroo midfielder left the field after just two minutes of the second half of the FA Cup Final and was escorted straight to the Liverpool rooms for treatment.

Liverpool went on to win the final after coming from behind twice, to win 3-1 on penalties against a gallant and very unlucky West Ham side.

Kewell was hoping to redeem the disappointment of last years Champions League final, where he forced from the field after 20 minutes are seriously injuring his groin, which also earned the wrath of the Liverpool supporters at the ground.

However he recovered and played an integral part in Liverpool 3rd place finish in the Premier League and progress to the FA Cup final.

Starting on the left, he was switched into the middle but his involvement was resigned to basically just being a link player as West Ham went to the break with a 2-1 lead.

The Hammers had stunned the pre-match favourites with two quick goal midway through the half, an own goal by defender Jamie Garragher and a tap-in for Dean Ashton after Liverpool keeper Jose Reina dropped a routine shot.

Djibril Cisse scored with a cracking volley to pull a goal back before the break for The Reds.

Liverpool drew it level when Stephen Gerrard scored with a long-range effort, but West Ham went back in front when Paul Konchesky-s attempted cross caught our Reina and sailed into the top corner of the far post.

With West Ham looking like they would win the Cup, Gerrard, so often the saviour for Liverpool, again stepped up to the plate to score one of the goals of the season. His 91st minute volley from all of 30 yards, never went more than 3 feet of the ground as it whistled past a stunned Shaka Hislop.

West Ham went closest to winning in extra time when Reina redeemed himself for the two earlier mistakes to turn Nigel Reo-Coker-s shot onto the post.

Reina then made West Ham-s misery complete when he saved three penalties in the shootout, as Liverpool won 3-1.

Meanwhile, John Aloisi was missing from the Alaves line-up that was fighting for its Spanish Primera Liga survival.

Alaves won 1-0 against Deportivo La Coruna, but were still relegated back to the Spanish Second Division after the only team it could overtake Espanyol also won 1-0.

It-s unclear why Aloisi did not play.