26.05.2005 - Reds crowned Champions of Europe!
Liverpool won the European Cup for the fifth time last night, following a thrilling night in Istanbul against Milan.
The Reds began the game as underdogs, and they soon found themselves a goal behind to the 2003 Champions thanks to a strike by captain Paolo Maldini, who arrived in the area unmarked to fire in from a Pirlo free-kick after less than a minute.
Sami Hyypia almost levelled things with a powerful header shortly after Maldini's goal, but Didi held on to the ball and it was to be a while before the Brazilian 'keeper was troubled again, as Milan began to dominate the game and rarely allowed Liverpool a clear sight of their goal.
Milan looked dangerous at the other end though, and thought they were 2-0 up when Shevchenko coolly slotted past Dudek midway through the half, but the Italians were denied by an offside flag.
However, they continued to threaten and Hernan Crespo doubled the lead from close range, firing in from a Shevchenko cross, with Liverpool's defence failing to cope with the Milan forwards.
And by half time, a shell shocked Reds team found themselves three goals down, again with Crespo the scorer, this time with a perfectly weighted finish with the outside of his right foot, after Kaka's oustanding pass from midfield had set up the chance.
Liverpool had a mountain to climb at half time, and Benitez too off Steve Finnan and replaced him with with Didi Hamann, who was surprisingly omitted from the starting line up.
Hamann's arrival helped Liverpool cope with Milan's attack, but despite their efforts, Liverpool showed few early signs of reducing Milan's lead, until the 54th minute at least, when Steven Gerrard's looping header beat Dida and gave the travelling Kop increased hope.
And as the noise level created by the Liverpool fans grew louder, Vladimir Smicer then made it 3-2 with a long range shot across goal which Dida failed to deal with, leaving the Milan players looking stunned, and their fans silent.
The belief among the players that they could yet turn the game around was evident, and it appeared only a matter of time before Liverpool did level the score, and inevitable that when it did arrive, their captain would be involved.
That proved to be the case, when on 59 minutes, Gerrard raced onto a pass into the area by Smicer, but before he could collect eha bell, he was pulled back by Gattuso. Penalty.
With Baros and Gerrard having already missed penalties this season, Xabi Alonso stepped up, and despite a wonderful save by Dida to deny him, Alonso was quick to reach the rebound which he slammed into the roof of the net.
Gerrard and Garcia each failed to test Dida with long range shots, and John Arne Riise's 25 yard drive required a save by the Milan 'keeper, while Jamie Carragher was in fine form in front of the Liverpool goal, blocking anything which came his way.
So to extra time, and another half an hour for the sides to win the game without the need for penalties.
After their heroics of the second half, Liverpool's players were clearly struggling, but still gave everything in pursuit of a winner which would complete the most amazing of tunarounds.
But it was Milan who almost grabbed it, Shevchenko seeing his header wonderfully saved by Dudek and when the rebound dropped to the Ukranian just six yards out and with Dudek still to get back on his feet, it looked like the moment when Liverpool's dream would finally end.
That was until Dudek put both hands up and amazingly turned Shevchenko's fierce volley over the bar with only three minutes to go.
With two hours of football unable to separate two of the giants of European football, the tie was to be decided on penalties, as Milan's last final was in 2003, when they overcame Juventus.
Serginho fired over the bar and Pirlo saw his kick saved, while Liverpool's first two were both scored thanks to Hamann and Cisse.
Jon Dahl Tomasson netted Milan's first goal with the fifth kick of the shootout, and Dida then did his part by making an excellent save from Riise's spot kick.
Kaka then stepped up to fire Milan level, but Smicer confidently sent Dida the wrong way to give Liverpool a 3-2 lead with one penalty each remaining.
First up, Dudek and Shevchenko came face to face once more. This time it looked as if Shevchenko would get the better of Liverpool's keeper after powerfully sidefooting his spot kick towards the centre of the goal.
But despite appearing to be diving the wrong way, Dudek managed to stretch out his left arm to make a stunning save, earning Liverpool their fifth European Cup in one of the most dramatic European finals of all time.
The success means that Liverpool are now the third most successful team in European club football history, behind only Real Madrid and Milan.
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