I just can't hide my excitation on the dramatic come back of Liverpool, the football club i'd supported n persevered with since 2001, to win Italian giant AC Milan in the 2005 UEFA Champion's League Final in Istanbul... i woke up in the middle of night to watch it live though i'm having my a-level chemistry practical exam that morning at 8, and the sacrifice is well worth it :)
Before i even reached the tv room, loud cheers could already be heard from far, and it was the very 1st min that Milan captain, Paolo Maldini, scored from a Pirlo's free kick.. Shit, wat a big hit to Liverpool, i thought quietly... And in the whole 1st half, Milan's skill n precise passing totally outclassed liv, and there came the heart breaking 2nd and 3rd goals form Crespo, being set up brilliantly by Kaka.. It was juz total silence, the Kopz had came thus far against all odds after beating Juventus and Chelsea, and finally got outclassed by Milan...
I was about to stop watching after 1st half, i couldn't imagine Liv player's reaction in the changing room, but then i thought i'll watch the other maybe 15 mins, something might change, miracle might happen, n if Liv dun score within dat time, i'll sleep... There came in Hamann for Finnan, and Liv swithed to juz 3 defenders.. i was like, wat the fuck is Benitez doing?! They'll get thrashed 5 or 6 nil like this..
Anyway, miracle does happened... Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard headed past Dida in the 54th min, and the 40,000 liv fans started to show the world wat they were there in Ataurk stadium for... Within blink of eyes, in the 56th min, veteran midfielder Smicer hammered home a long shot to the left corner of the net, and it's now 3-2... Already unbelievable. Finally, in the 60th min, Gerrard won a penalty!!!! Alonso steped up, got saved (shit), but he was the first to reach the ball again n slotted in to the roof of the net.. WALAU!!! Wat a historic come back of all time.. The match stretched through extra time, and in last 3 min, European Player of the Year 2005, Andry Shevchenko, headed a close range ball, but Liv's Dudek saved it superbly, but the ball fall back to Shevy's leg and he powered it again, but it was a save again!!! Another golden double-save of all time, this time performed by Liverpool's outgoing keeper, Jerzy Dudek!!!
And another add-on of brilliance in extra time: cramped on both legs in the extra time period, someone made some important last second key tackles which held the Milan attackers... Player of the Seaaon, Jamie Carragher, a Liverpool central defender whose carrier was revived in Rafa's revolution, performed many unflinching, unpretentious, n unstoppable character this season... There's no way in England will find another player so committed as he is... John Terry? No way..
At last in the heart-thumping penalty kick out-- Bruce Grobellar, a Reds legendary keeper in the 1984 European Cup final win against Roma, inspired Dudek for the "wobbly legs", which made the 1st Serginho kick fly high up; saved Pirlo's 2nd; and at last Shevy's spot kick!!! Wat is that? Dudek saved the 3 most reliable spot kick taker of Milan!?! Liverpool won in penalty 3-2...
The Reds is again the European Champion for the fifth time!!!! Five stars!!! 3rd most winner after Real Madrid(9) and Milan(6)!!!!
Steven Gerrard is here to stay!!! What a touching moment when he lifted the most valuable trophy in club stage... Hey Chelsea, money isn't everything!!! The skipper earned a Man of the Match display in this final, 3 roles he had took, and his never say die spirit n the impact on the team is just uncomparable... Lampard? Henry? Nah!!!
Last but not least, Rafael Benitez, the Spanish maestro in his first season here, lifted the biggest cup in just 9 months in charge... No big money, no big star players; never being arogant; does not hate the FA rules; cool, gentleman, and cheerful, and a master tactician, is unarguably the Manager of the Season... Fought back and killed Milan from 3-0 down in just 6 min!!.... Mourinho the special one? Haha, sau pei lar..
This is a miracle indeed, and they TRULY never walked alone that night, there was obviously some kind of divine intervention on the game.. God was working, and Liverpool is His favourite at that moment, haha... "You'll never walk alone... Walk on, walk on through the rains..."
