Liverpool's road to the final began on 26 October 2004, with a 3-0 victory over Millwall- the match featuring a rare goal from Salif Diao. Neil Mellor hit a brace against Middlesbrough in the next round on 1 November 2004 to seal a 2-0 victory for the Reds, before Liverpool won a penalty shootout with Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter finals on 1 December 2004, following a 1-1 tie. Liverpool had fallen behind to a Jermain Defoe goal in the 108th minute, before a 117th minute Florent Sinama-Pongolle penalty sent the match to the shootout- Liverpool prevailing 4-3. The semi-finals paired Liverpool with Watford- Steven Gerrard netted the only goal in each leg as Liverpool progressed 2-0 on aggregate.