Villa beat Liverpool to end Gerrard's final dream

Aston Villa's Christian Benteke celebrates at the end of their FA Cup semifinal against Liverpool at the Wembley Stadium, April 19, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Aston Villa will meet holders Arsenal in the FA Cup final next month after goals from Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph gave them a 2-1 win over Liverpool in a pulsating semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.

Villa's unexpected but thoroughly deserved come-from-behind victory ended Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard's dream of bringing his 17-year career at Anfield to a close with a cup winner's medal on his 35th birthday in the final on May 30.

Tim Sherwood, who has revitalised Villa since replacing Paul Lambert as manager in February, told reporters: "We bamboozled them. They could not cope with our tactics and I think we were the better side."

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: "We were nervous for some reason. Maybe when you want to win something so much, perhaps it plays on your mind. We were second best today."

Liverpool made the breakthrough in the 30th minute when Philippe Coutinho scored after sloppy Villa defending.

But Villa, who last won the cup in 1957, were only behind for six minutes before they deservedly equalised when skipper Delph, guilty for his part in the build-up to the Liverpool goal, did everything right in the move that led to Villa's.

He surged forward before playing a one-two with Jack Grealish and crossing for Benteke whose first time shot flew past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

Villa went ahead nine minutes into the second half when Delph scored after another superb move which included a Benteke backheel and a Grealish through ball for his captain who cut in and gave Mignolet no chance from 12 metres.