04.05.2005 - Garcia goal sends Reds into Euro final
A Luis Garcia goal was enough to send Liverpool into a sixth European Cup Final on one of the most memorable Anfield nights in the club's history.
Garcia's disputed fourth minute strike was enough to settle the tie and earn Liverpool their first win in five meetings this season over the newly crowned Premiership Champions.
Rafa Benitez was in confident mood ahead of the tie, insisting that Liverpool would make it to Istanbul and he was proved correct following another close contest between the two sides.
The fans created the wonderful atmosphere which was predicted by a number of Liverpool players during the build up, and the players were quick to respond, with Riise and Gerrard involved in a build up to a move which put Milan Baros through on goal after less than four minutes.
Baros flicked the ball past Petr Cech before being clattered by his international team-mate, but Luis Garcia was on hand to knock the ball goalward bound.
Despite a last gasp goalline clearance by William Gallas, Garcia celebrated scoring, and following a brief pause and a glance toward his assistant on the touchline, the referee signalled an opening goal for Liverpool, sending the volume inside the ground to new levels.
The opening goal proved to be the only goal and, as in the first leg, the number of chances were kept to a minimum.
Chelsea predicatably dominated possession with Claude Makelele on top form. But those in front of him were unable to carve open Liverpool's defence and only twice in the 90 minutes did Chelsea come close to scoring.
A powerfully struck Frank Lampard free kick forced Jerzy Dudek into his first save of the tie during the second half, and Eidur Gudjohnsson volleyed wide from a tight angle in the sixth and final minute of injury time, when it appeared that all he had to do was get his shot on target to earn Chelsea a dramatic equaliser which would have sent them through.
But again, as they did against Juventus, Liverpool's heroes did enough to defy the many who had predicted the end of the Champions League line for Rafa and his men, and Liverpool now stand just one match away from winning the biggest prize in club football.
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