It was one of those nights ... an European Cup finals , a night for die-hard soccer fans, a night when glory or defeat is decided by a 22 players on the pitch. Well, this was the 2004/05 Champions League final pitting the 2nd best team in Italy, AC Milan, a star-studded team and favourites to lift the cup against the underdogs - Liverpool, 5th in the premier league, a shadow of it's former glory.
I have to admit that although I was rooting for the English team to take the cup, I had made no prior plans to wake up for the match (reason being I'm a Man Utd fan and was feeling rather tired after watching the Star Wars III earlier tonight). Strangely enough, I woke up suddenly from my slumber and decided to check the time. The time was 3:30am. So, ok, I decided to check out the score onTV.
Whoa ! Milan was up by two goals, and wait, Kaka launches a beautiful curling pass which escapes Carragher's stretching leg and ends up on the feet of Crespo , who then duly chips the ball over the helpless Dudek. Score 3-0 ! Looked like Liverpool was dead and burried. I believe some Liverpool fans had actually call it a night then, convinced that their team had lost to a better team that night. Well these same fans will probably be knocking their heads on the wall the next morning after missing out on one of the football's greatest comebacks.
Second half, Liverpool brought in Hamann, maybe in an attempt to wrest control of the midfield from the battling Gattuso and Pirlo as well as to stop the marauding Seedorf and Kaka. Then on the 54th minute, out of one of the rare Liverpool attacks, Risse sends a innocent cross into the box. Gerard being in the right place and right time, heads a looping header into the corner of the net. Milan was stunned. The match commentors who had before half time declared that the cup was as good as Milan's, was suddenly staring at a probable comeback.
The Reds didn't just stop there, they were rampant, attacking at every opportunity and Milan was allowing them the space to do just that. Riding this wave of new hope, Smicer decided to cut in and hit a powerful grounder from 25 yards. Dida dived, fully stretch, but only managed to grasp thin air as the ball found the net. 3-2 , the game was on. And then a couple of minutes later, just as if it was scripted, Liverpool was awarded a penalty after Gerard fell under the challenge of Gattuso. Alonso missed the penalty but before a collective groan could be heard among the Anfield faithful, he smashed the rebound into the roof of the net. Comeback completed, now for the win.
Unfortunately ,after that was mostly Milan's show. Carragher and Dudek was often called to stop the relentless Milan attack. I drifted in and out sleep at this time, saving myself for the penallty kicks afterwards (as if I knew!). Full time flew by. Extra time - still no goals. PENALTY ! I prayed that Liverpool were more fortunate than Man Utd at spot kicks (still reeling from the FA Cup Final loss to Arsenal). Then as if afflicted by the same curse as the Italian national team, the first two Milan players failed to convert their spot kicks. Finally it rested on Shevshenko's shoulders. Surely, he, the reigning European Player of the Year, would not miss, right ?? But gut feeling told me that it was gonna be Dudek's night. And sure enough, Shev's tame kick was saved by Dudek's outstretched hand.
So the fairy tale ending came true for the underdogs; the cup was going back to England (and staying in Liverpool for good after having winning it 5 times). What a way to win the cup, coming from the brink of defeat to produce one of the greatest football finals' comeback ever. Whoa, what a night ! If I were a reds fan, I'd probably be on cloud nine for the rest of the day. Thanks for the fitting final Liverpool, and enjoy the crown and euphoria ... while it last.
***********************************************************************************
Wait for my next post on my Bangkok Trip , still organising and downloading the photos ...
No comments:
Post a Comment