Schwarzer Comes Good As Boro Win First Trophy

Australian international goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and Brad Jones are celebrating after Middlesbrough won its first major trophy in its 128-year history, defeating Bolton Wanderers 2-1 in the League Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Australian international goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and Brad Jones are celebrating after Middlesbrough won its first major trophy in its 128-year history, defeating Bolton Wanderers 2-1 in the League Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

For Socceroo keeper Schwarzer (pictured right) it was a night of mixed emotions, after his mistake allowed Bolton back into the game after they lead 2-0 inside the first seven minutes.

However after that error he was magnificent and he earned the praise of his manager Steve McLaren for his string of outstanding saves that denied Bolton an equaliser.

"The game hinged on Mark Schwarzer making a mistake but after that he made three fantastic saves which kept us in the game,” said McLaren after the game.

Jones, who is in line for a spot in the Australian Under 23 team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, remained on the bench for the match as back-up to Schwarzer.

Middlesbrough got off to a flyer, when Joseph-Desire Job scored after just three minutes, tapping home a cross from the impressive Zenden.

The Middlesbrough fans then had further cause for celebration minutes later when Job was felled in the box by Emerson Thome, with Zenden converting although only after it looked like he had hit the ball twice after slipping at contact with the ball.

In between the two goals, Schwarzer made a good save to deny a Djorkaeff drive. But on 21 minutes, Schwarzer allowed a speculative shot from an acute angle by Kevin Davies to slip through his grasp and inside the near post.

It was an uncharacteristic error from the former Marconi keeper, but he redeemed himself with a number of fine saves throughout the remainder of the match.

His first crucial save came after he was initially beaten by a shot from Per Frandsen that hit the post and rebounded out to Djorkaeff, but Schwarzer was able to block his shot at close range.

Schwarzer again denied the Frenchman with a diving save in the second half, as Middlesbrough rearguard clung on desperately to its lead.

Middlesbrough also had chances to extend its lead, but wasted them.

The win now means Middlesbrough has qualified for the UEFA Cup next season, the first time they have qualified for European competition.

Meanwhile in the Premier League overnight, it was the battle of the Aussie strikers at Elland Road, as Leeds United and Liverpool played out an exciting 2-2 draw.

Harry Kewell (pictured left) returned to the ground where he spent nine years before transferring to Liverpool in acrimonious circumstances in the off-season and as expected was booed severely every time he touched the ball.

But he reminded the Leeds faithful of his enormous talents and what they are missing out on, with a pearler of goal to opening the scoring after 21 minutes. He curling shot from just outside the edge of the area, gave Leeds keeper Paul Robinson no chance as it went into the top corner.

Leeds however were quick to hit back and scored through Erik Bakke, and then went ahead when Kewell's Socceroo striker partner and former teammate Mark Viduka was able to beat Chris Kirkland to Alan Smith-s flicked through ball to put the home side 2-1 up.

Liverpool responded accordingly and equalised just before half time with a terrific individual goal from Milan Baros.

Neither side could break the deadlock in the second half with Smith going the closest, heading against the bar in the final ten minutes.