Portsmouth hearts and FA Cup dreams were cruelly shattered by the injustice of a penalty shoot-out that gave Liverpool a place in the final that four hours of open play could not deliver.
The Second Division side, triumphantly defiant throughout the semi-final replay at Villa Park, incredibly surrendered so tamely in the first spot-kick competition to decide a Wembley place.
Liverpool were on their way to their fourth appearance in the last six years from the moment Pompey captain Martin Kuhl drove their first effort wide of goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar's left hand post.
Though young defender kit Symons was coolly accurate when he was next up, the strength of resistance had been sapped too from the legs of Warren Neill and John Beresford to kill off any hope of an all Second Division final against Sunderland on May 9.
John Barnes, Ian Rush and Dean Saunders showed the devastating accuracy which makes them three of the most expensive players inthe domestic game and recuperating manager Graeme Souness the prize which should serve as the perfect tonic.
Watching on satellite television from his Manchester hospital after his heart bypass operation, he must have had a few flutters in the 12th minute when the eccentric Bruce Grobbelaar nearly presented Portsmouth with the lead. He raced out of his area but completely misjudged Andy Awford's long ball and the pursuing Darren Anderton reached it first but lobbed wide of the exposed goal.
With Jan Molby restored to midfield, Liverpool assumed control but struggled to carve out clear openings and the better chances fell to Portsmouth, as they had done in the 1-1 draw at Highbury ten days ago.
And far from ruining their prospects the loss of Northern Ireland striker Colin Clarke after 73 minutes with a suspected broken arm after an awkward fall, produced instead a much-needed injection of pace with the arrival of Guy Whittingham.
Beresford set up the best chance five minutes from the end of normal time when he pulled the ball back for Alan McLoughlin. With Liverpool protesting the ball was out of play, the Irishman scooped the close range chance against the bar and Liverpool survived.
They might have snatched it themselves before extra time when Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight was penalised for handling just inches outside his area. It was a better position than that from which John Barnes set up the dramatic Highbury equaliser but this time his free kick was blocked.
Extra time produced little prospect of an end to the deadlock, bar several more excursions out of his area by Grobbelaar, the worst of which in the 115th minute almost settled the issue. Again Whittingham beat him to it but his cross was taken away from Beresford by Jones' timely tackle.
So Portsmouth, never behind over four hours and two matches, found their hopes of a first final for 53 years taken to penalties and destroyed.
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