Liverpool beats Milan on penalties in Champions League final
{{date|May 26, 2005}}

[[File:Liverpool FC.svg|150px|right|Liverpool F.C. logo]]

In a dramatic [[w:UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] final between football clubs [[w:Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[w:A.C. Milan|AC Milan]], English club Liverpool won the trophy after a [[w:penalty shootout (football)|penalty shootout]] despite being 3 goals behind their Italian opponents before half-time.

A.C. Milan's veteran [[w:Paolo Maldini|Paolo Maldini]] scored in the first minute of the match after a corner kick. After [[w:Hernán Crespo|Hernan Crespo]] scored twice for Milan before half-time, it looked like Liverpool had no chance. But the Reds' performance changed dramatically after half-time. [[w:Steven Gerrard|Steven Gerrard]] was the first to score for Liverpool, inspiring the rest of the team. In a quick succession Milan's goalkeeper [[w:Dida|Dida]] saw the goals of [[w:Vladimír Šmicer|Vladimir Smicer]] and [[w:Xabi Alonso|Xabi Alonso]] (the latter scored after a controversial penalty decision) in his net. 

After the equalizer the game was even and both teams took a cautious approach. After 90 minutes the score was still 3-3 and so it went to extra time.  [[w:Jerzy Dudek|Jerzy Dudek]] made two incredible saves off of [[w:Andriy Shevchenko|Andriy Shevchenko]] shots in the last minutes of extra time to push the contest into a penalty shootout. Then, again, Polish goalkeeper Dudek saved the day for Liverpool by stoping two shots. Liverpool won, scoring three penalties to Milan's two.

Milan supporters were very disappointed at the loss. [[w:Silvio Berlusconi|Silvio Berlusconi]], the owner of AC Milan, as well as Prime Minister of Italy, said: "Milan played much better throughout. We created move after move while they didn't create one move worthy of the name. What a shame." Italian sport newspaper Gazetta della Sport commented: "Incredible. Milan lost on penalties a cup that it had already won. It lost it badly, very badly. A team which scores three goals in the first 45 minutes, outclasses its adversary, stuns it with staggering moves, cannot let in three goals in six minutes."

Those who supported Liverpool were delighted at the unexpected victory. [[w:England national football team|England national team]] coach [[w:Sven-Göran Eriksson|Sven-Göran Eriksson]] praised Liverpool's performance, saying: "What a game it was, heroic. I've never seen a European final like that ever, it is great news for all of us working in English football." Triumphant Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said he is "on top of the world" and also said he would stay with Liverpool after this victory, despite interest from such clubs as [[w:Real Madrid|Real Madrid]] and [[w:Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].

----

Liverpool (4-4-1-1): [[w:Jerzy Dudek|Dudek]]; [[w:Steve Finnan|Finnan]] ([[w:Dietmar Hamann|Hamann]], h-t), [[w:Sami Hyypiä|Hyypiä]], [[w:Jamie Carragher|Carragher]], [[w:Djimi Traore|Traore]]; [[w:Sanz Luis García|Garcia]], [[w:Xabi Alonso|Alonso]], [[w:Steven Gerrard|Gerrard]], [[w:John Arne Riise|Riise]]; [[w:Harry Kewell|Kewell]] ([[w:Vladimír Šmicer|Smicer]], 23); [[w:Milan Baroš|Baros]] ([[w:Djibril Cissé|Cissé]], 84). Substitutes not used: Carson (gk), Josemi, Nunez, Biscan.

Milan (4-3-1-2): [[w:Dida|Dida]]; [[w:Cafu|Cafu]], [[w:Alessandro Nesta|Nesta]], [[w:Jaap Stam|Stam]], [[w:Paolo Maldini|Maldini]]; [[w:Gennaro Gattuso|Gattuso]] ([[w:Rui Costa|Rui Costa]], 112), [[w:Andrea Pirlo|Pirlo]], [[w:Clarence Seedorf|Seedorf]] ([[w:Sergio Claudio dos Santos|Serginho]], 84); [[w:Kaká|Kaka]]; [[w:Andriy Shevchenko|Shevchenko]], [[w:Hernán Crespo|Crespo]] ([[w:Jon Dahl Tomasson|Tomasson]], 84). Substitutes not used: Abbiati (gk), Kaladze, Costacurta, Dhorasoo.

Goals (Milan): Maldini 1, Crespo 39, 44.
Goals (Liverpool): Gerrard 54, Smicer 56, Alonso 59.

Referee: M Gonzalez (Spain).

Att: 65,000.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
=== Match reports ===
*{{source|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/story.jsp?story=641475
 |title=Vintage Liverpool produce epic response and triumph in Turkey
 |author=Sam Wallace
 |pub=Belfast Telegraph
 |date=May 26, 2005}} (biased but quite extensive)
*{{source|url=http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=setSelectedId&nextPage=enNewsLatest&id=881487&type=com.fapl.website.news.NewsItem&categoryCode=NewsEuropeanCompetitionNews&breadcrumb=europcomp_breadcrumb
 |title=Reds Glory after Penalty Drama
 |author=
 |pub=premierleague.com
 |date=May 25, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4573159.stm
 |title=AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (aet)
 |author=
 |pub=BBC Sport
 |date=May 25, 2005}}

=== Reactions ===
*{{source|url=http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=setSelectedId&nextPage=enNewsLatest&id=881642&type=com.fapl.website.news.NewsItem&categoryCode=NewsEuropeanCompetitionNews&breadcrumb=europcomp_breadcrumb
 |title=Glorious Gerrard Drops Hints
 |author=
 |pub=premierleague.com
 |date=May 26, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4582029.stm
 |title=Eriksson hails 'heroic' Liverpool
 |author=
 |pub=BBC Sport
 |date=May 26, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/05/26/milan.berlusconi.reut/
 |title=Berlusconi stands by Milan coach
 |author=
 |pub=CNN.com
 |date=May 26, 2005}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Football (soccer)]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:England]]
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Liverpool]]
[[Category:Real Madrid]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C.]]
[[Category:A.C. Milan]]

[[de:Fußball Champions League: Liverpool reüssiert im Elfmeterschießen gegen AC Milan]]
[[es:Liverpool es el nuevo campeón de Europa]]
[[pl:Finał Ligi Mistrzów - Liverpool kontra Milan]]
Liverpool F.C. logo

In a dramatic Champions League final between football clubs Liverpool and AC Milan, English club Liverpool won the trophy after a penalty shootout despite being 3 goals behind their Italian opponents before half-time.

A.C. Milan's veteran Paolo Maldini scored in the first minute of the match after a corner kick. After Hernan Crespo scored twice for Milan before half-time, it looked like Liverpool had no chance. But the Reds' performance changed dramatically after half-time. Steven Gerrard was the first to score for Liverpool, inspiring the rest of the team. In a quick succession Milan's goalkeeper Dida saw the goals of Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso (the latter scored after a controversial penalty decision) in his net. 

After the equalizer the game was even and both teams took a cautious approach. After 90 minutes the score was still 3-3 and so it went to extra time.  Jerzy Dudek made two incredible saves off of Andriy Shevchenko shots in the last minutes of extra time to push the contest into a penalty shootout. Then, again, Polish goalkeeper Dudek saved the day for Liverpool by stoping two shots. Liverpool won, scoring three penalties to Milan's two.

Milan supporters were very disappointed at the loss. Silvio Berlusconi, the owner of AC Milan, as well as Prime Minister of Italy, said: "Milan played much better throughout. We created move after move while they didn't create one move worthy of the name. What a shame." Italian sport newspaper Gazetta della Sport commented: "Incredible. Milan lost on penalties a cup that it had already won. It lost it badly, very badly. A team which scores three goals in the first 45 minutes, outclasses its adversary, stuns it with staggering moves, cannot let in three goals in six minutes."

Those who supported Liverpool were delighted at the unexpected victory. England national team coach Sven-Göran Eriksson praised Liverpool's performance, saying: "What a game it was, heroic. I've never seen a European final like that ever, it is great news for all of us working in English football." Triumphant Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said he is "on top of the world" and also said he would stay with Liverpool after this victory, despite interest from such clubs as Real Madrid and Chelsea.

----

Liverpool (4-4-1-1): Dudek; Finnan (Hamann, h-t), Hyypiä, Carragher, Traore; Garcia, Alonso, Gerrard, Riise; Kewell (Smicer, 23); Baros (Cissé, 84). Substitutes not used: Carson (gk), Josemi, Nunez, Biscan.

Milan (4-3-1-2): Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Stam, Maldini; Gattuso (Rui Costa, 112), Pirlo, Seedorf (Serginho, 84); Kaka; Shevchenko, Crespo (Tomasson, 84). Substitutes not used: Abbiati (gk), Kaladze, Costacurta, Dhorasoo.

Goals (Milan): Maldini 1, Crespo 39, 44.
Goals (Liverpool): Gerrard 54, Smicer 56, Alonso 59.

Referee: M Gonzalez (Spain).

Att: 65,000.


de:Fußball Champions League: Liverpool reüssiert im Elfmeterschießen gegen AC Milan
Sports Football (soccer) Europe England Italy Liverpool Real Madrid UEFA Champions League Liverpool F.C. A.C. Milan