Tigers take historic win

Leicester won the first penalty shoot-out in Heineken Cup history to book a Murrayfield showdown with Leinster on May 23.

The Tigers, European champions in 2001 and 2002, kept alive hopes of a third title thanks to number eight Jordan Crane's 22-metre penalty which concluded a bizarre end to a contest which went to extra-time.

Leicester won the penalty shoot-out 7-6, Crane striking gold after Blues' Wales and Lions flanker Martyn Williams missed, after the match finished 26-26.

Both teams were reduced to taking shots at goal from in front of the posts and Cardiff had the advantage when Leicester wing Johne Murphy missed his team's fourth kick.

However, Blues wing Tom James, whose late try had taken the game into extra-time, fired his kick wide, allowing the Tigers to live again via sudden death.

The Welsh side looked down and out, trailing 26-12 with just six minutes of normal time remaining.

But converted tries by Wales internationals Jamie Roberts and James - which rounded off an electrifying 80-metre move - looked to have halted Leicester's Murrayfield march.

It took the game into extra-time and Leicester only had themselves to blame, having a player - flanker Craig Newby and then full-back Geordan Murphy - in the sin-bin for each score.

But after a scoreless extra 20 minutes, Williams proved the villain and Leicester took the glory.