May 26, 2005 12:47 PM
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(Updated May 26, 2005 02:54 PM)
Need some time to breathe…Still waiting to get my breath back after the heroics of Liverpool last night... Liverpool in the 18th and 19th century was one if the best English clubs but unfortunately it has lost that flair now…It had produced some wonderful player including Ian Rush- The Liverpool Legend..
A past few season hasn’t been good for LFC as they haven’t won any trophies and never looked like winning one…1985 was the last time they won the then European Cup now known as Champions League…So all would agree that they have under-performed since then…
But the season 2004-2005 saw them lose Michael Owen to real Madrid and their coach Gerrard Houllier being sacked…So when the season started it looked like of those seasons again until their marvelous captain stepped up the gas after a few games…He is at his prime age of 26 and the way he led them this season was better than Eric Cantona leading Man Utd at one time in early 90’s.
Uefa Champions League (ULC) was the only hope left for Liverpool this season after a poor start to the domestic campaign and they were considered underdogs in ULC, with Chelsea along with Barcelona and Man Utd the favorites to win the trophy along with the Italian giants AC Milan.
In the group stages they had to face Olympiakos from Greece in the last group-stage match and had to beat them by a difference of 2 goals in order to progress to the last 32.
It was not a good start to the game after going behind to a Rivaldo Free-kick…With the Greeks leading 1-0 at the break, the merseysiders had a mountain to climb, a mountain in the form of three goals…Pongolle got them on level terms before Mellor the emerging Liverpool star gave them the lead of 2-1 which was still not good enough for Liverpool to progress. With 10 mins left on the clock and there looked no way for Liverpool until who-else Steven Gerrard stepped up to score a stunner..(I have a copy of this stunning goal if anyone wants it)…..Still remember the commentators shouting “come on get in son” when Gerrard struck a STUNNER…and that goal was the turning point…
In between the ULC matches they had the domestic matches in which they under-performed as they knew they had lost it and didn’t go all out…Their domestic form was soo bad that they finished 5th and they wouldn’t have got to play the ULC next seasons only top four teams from England qualify for it…
Some of the players hinted at Liverpool exit if they didn’t play ULC next season and the list also included Gerrard..
Having beaten Bayer Leverkuesen 6-2 aggregate in the last 32 they had to face Juventus in the last 16…
Juventus found themselves behind 2-0 in the first leg before they pulled one back and the score was 2-1 on aggregate…
It meant that there would be an English team in the ULC final with an all English semis between Chelsea and Liverpool…The first leg ended goalless and Luis Garcia’s goal in the 4th minute in the second leg sealed the tie for Liverpool…
They had to face Milan in the Finals which was played early morning today at 12:15am…I had invited my friends over to my place to watch the final and it all started disastrously with Paolo Maldini giving Milan the lead after 50 seconds. Liverpool responded well and Sami Hyypia’s header was saved by Dida and Riise’s shot from 25 yards which looked destined to end up in the goal was blocked by Nesta…I had by then lost my breath and Milan continued to dominate…Liverpool were disallowed a clear penalty after 38 mins and in the same minute Milan doubled their lead through Crespo. Liverpool looked down and out until Kakas brilliance found Crespo who scored the third
At half-time score was Milan 3-0 Liverpool...the Pundits expected Milan to win the ULC but not 3-0…The Liverpool fans had not lost hope and were singing the famous “Youll Never Walk Alone” along with chanting ''we will win 4-3”
At half-time Paul Masefield said “Lose 7-0 but show some attacking flair”… and only god knows what Rafa Benitez told Liverpool players at half-time that they came out all guns blazing and pulled one back through who else than Gerrard in the 54th minute before a 25 yarder from Smicer crept into the far post a minute later…so after 56 minutes the score was still with Milan 3-2…in the 60th minute Gerrard was pulled back by Ivan Gattuso in the area.Penalty.Alonso stepped up against Dida and Dida managed to save the penalty but Alonso put the ball in the back of the net with the follow-up, but by them I had ripped of my jersey delight and was just admiring the moment…After 90 minutes the score was 3-3 and we went into extra time(15 mins each half)…First E/T was just a passing game by Milan but they stepped it up in the second and with three mins of 2nd E/T left Dudek came up with a wonderful double save to deny Shevchenko within 10 seconds.
A breather for me for about 5 mins as the game moved onto penalties..
Serginho missed the first one for Milan…
Hamann stepped up for Liverpool and scored…Liverpool lead 1-0…
Pirlo comes up for Milan but has his penalty save by Dudek before Smicer doubles Liverpool’s lead in PS.
Tomasson scored for Milan and Riise missed for Liverpool… now the score was 2-1..
Kaka stepped up to score for Milan and Cisse scored for Liverpool before Dudek saved Shevchenko’s spot kick…
… And Liverpool were crowned Champion Of Europe….
It was 3:30am in the morning but all I could is get a bottle of pepsi out and start shouting along with my friends “We are the Champions”
Cant describe it myself…Still cant get my breath back…I feel that this is the beginning of a new era for Liverpool Football club…
Champion’s league final would be repeated sometime later today on either ESPN or Star Sports…cant wait to watch it again and again and again and again and…..
RRC my review
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