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CRAIG BELLAMY had a score to settle with Roberto Mancini � and what a way to do it. The Welsh firebrand was gutted at the way Mancini dumped him from the City squad and forced him out. And last night he got his revenge with the goal which took Liverpool to Wembley for the first time since 1996. Bellamy's finish, after a quick one-two with Glen Johnson, settled this semi-final tie 16 minutes from time. It also set up a showdown in the capital against Cardiff, the striker's birthplace, and the club where he was on loan before his return to Anfield. The failure to reach Wembley was bad enough for Mancini but for Bellamy to get the clincher was an extra twist of the knife. The Italian boss once told Bellamy to stay away from City for three months because he was too much trouble, yet claimed he was "happy" for him at getting the decider. Surely that was a wind-up. Next he will be telling us he loves Carlos Tevez. City may be top of the Premier League but they have now gone out of three competitions � the Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup. The pressure is really on to take the title now because if they fall short, there will be a serious inquest. Mancini was moaning about refs again, which is becoming his common default position. He claimed City were robbed by Phil Dowd and should have had a penalty when Charlie Adam appeared to foul Edin Dzeko midway through the first half. He also insisted the spot-kick against Micah Richards for handball which led to Steven Gerrard's leveller should never have been awarded. And he was still ranting about Mario Balotelli's four-match ban for his stamp on Spurs' Scott Parker, which meant mad Mario missed last night's game. Getting to this final will be a major boost for Liverpool and boss Kenny Dalglish (below). Skipper Gerrard found it necessary to defend his manager prior to kick-off following the inept 3-1 defeat at Bolton. The Scottish boss lambasted his players for that performance and demanded a response against City. He got it. For all Mancini's complaints, Liverpool were well worth their aggregate victory. Had it not been for Joe Hart in the City goal, this tie would have been settled long before Bellamy's strike. Though Liverpool held a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg at the Etihad, the two sides had gone into the match in very contrasting form. The Reds were embarrassed by the rout at the Reebok while City were buoyant after their last-gasp 3-2 victory over Spurs, which cemented their position at the top of the table. With Bellamy preferred in the central striking role, instead of the misfiring Andy Carroll, the home side went for it. Jose Enrique was denied inside four minutes when Aleksandar Kolarov sliced the ball across his own area. The Spanish full-back had time but his shot was blocked by Hart's legs and Stewart Downing, coming in on the rebound, slashed wide. City were playing with three centre-backs rather than a conventional four-man defence and Stefan Savic, in the middle of the three, was far from comfortable. It meant Hart was a busy man. The England keeper saved well from Adam's 20-yard drive and, when Bellamy robbed Savic, Hart beat out his rising effort. But they switched off on 31 minutes allowing Nigel de Jong the space for a cracking goal. David Silva laid off a pass to his right with Liverpool having been sucked towards the ball and the Dutchman took aim before whipping a magnificent right-foot curler into the top corner from 30 yards. It made the scores level on aggregate but not for long because, within 10 minutes, Gerrard had restored Liverpool's overall advantage. He was cool as ever when the Reds were awarded a spot-kick after Daniel Agger's drive came off Richards' sliding right leg and struck his raised arm. The visitors protested furiously but referee Dowd stood firm pointing to his arm. Gerrard did the rest, tucking it into the bottom left corner just as he had in the first leg. The arguments about the penalty were still going on between the City players and Dowd as they went down the tunnel at the break. But City had to get over it and Mancini duly hauled off Savic � which must have disappointed Liverpool � and threw on Sergio Aguero up front. Hart made a rare error when he flapped at a free-kick and Martin Skrtel prodded a shot back in which the keeper flicked over to redeem himself. Then Dirk Kuyt crossed to the far post, Downing met it and Hart got his legs in the way again. Hart's brilliance meant City were still in it and they scored a second on 67 minutes through Bosnian Dzeko. Kolarov burst down the left past Johnson, his low cross was a belter and Dzeko converted at the far post. But Liverpool refused to let the goal upset them. Kuyt worked really hard to create the opening and slid a pass to Bellamy who knocked it to Johnson, got the return and shot past Hart. A cracking goal to end a cracking match. Bellamy was subbed on 88 minutes to a standing ovation. Even some City fans clapped � how they must wish he had never left. DREAM TEAM SUN STAR MAN � CRAIG BELLAMY (LIVERPOOL) LIVERPOOL: Reina 6, Johnson 6, Skrtel 6, Agger 7, Enrique 6, Henderson 6, Adam 6, Downing 6, Gerrard 7, Bellamy 8, Kuyt 7. Subs: Kelly (Bellamy 88) 6, Carroll (Kuyt 90) 5. Not used: Doni, Coates, Carragher, Maxi, Shelvey. Booked: Gerrard, Enrique. MAN CITY: Hart 8, Richards 7, Savic 4, Lescott 6, Kolarov 6, De Jong 7, Barry 6, Zabaleta 6, Silva 6, Nasri 6, Dzeko 6. Subs: Aguero (Savic 46) 6, Johnson (De Jong 78) 6. Not used: Pantilimon, Clichy, Rekik, Milner, Hargreaves. Booked: Kolarov. REF: P Dowd 7