[[SNIPPETS OF THE GAME]]
Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool into their second Champions League final inside three years by scoring the winning penalty against Chelsea at Anfield.
With the scores level on aggregate at 1-1 after extra-time, Bolo Zenden, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt all scored from the spot while Arjen Robben and Geremi saw their efforts saved by Jose Reina.
Defender Daniel Agger had levelled the tie at 1-1 by stroking home Gerrard's 22nd-minute free-kick.
The champions paid dearly for Cole's misdemeanour in the 22nd minute when Agger swept home Gerrard's free-kick to give the home side the lead on the night and put them level overall.
A goal for Chelsea would give Liverpool a mountain to climb but the champions were more content to knock the ball around than to try and hurt Liverpool.
With the aggregate scores locked at 1-1, the match went into extra-time.
In the 97th minute Mourinho made his first change of the night when he replaced Joe Cole with Dutch winger Arjen Robben.
Three minutes later Kuyt was adjudged offside when he converted the rebound after Cech had failed to hold a ferocious drive from Xabi Alonso.
Five minutes before the end of extra-time Drogba just failed to connect with a low cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips but Cech rescued Chelsea when he punched away Kuyt's shot moments later.
And the game went to penalties with Liverpool keeper Reina the hero as he saved two penalties.
[[JOSE JIBES AGAIN]]
'They (the Chelsea players) have a lot of reasons to be proud. They did a great run in the Champions League.'
'We were the best team today, even against a team only playing for the Champions League.
'In extra-time we were the only team who tried to win, but football is like that and the penalty shoot-out is part of the game.'
'I respected Liverpool always in my words. I don't need to say more and today I think the best team was Chelsea.'
'As far as my management career goes, that was the most heartbreaking night. To lose a Champions League semi-final on penalties is hard to take.'
Mourinho also denied that his comments in the build-up to the game had provided a spur for Liverpool.
(ED: Thanks Jose for spurring us on)
[[Benitez replies]]
On His Winning Team,
'I could not have asked for more. It was very hard, they have some great attacking players and it was hard to keep them under control and keep a clean sheet.
'But we did that, we played with great passion and skill, and our fans helped us through.'
'But I felt we knew how to beat Chelsea, we played with passion and I am really proud of my players.'
On Jose:
'I would just prefer to enjoy this moment, to enjoy the thought of the final again and just praise my team without saying anything else.
On Himself,
'I will just enjoy this, the atmosphere was fantastic. But I repeat, Chelsea were pushing hard and we had to work really hard in defence.
On Chelsea,
'(Didier) Drogba was difficult, but they have other very good attackers, we had to work very hard to control them.'
On Man of The Match,
'Pepe was a specialist penalty stopper in Spain, and he has done the same thing here, he practices and is very hard to beat.
[[Best Quote to Sum it all up]]
'Nobody will remember that Chelsea were the best team in extra-time. That is the history of football.'
3 comments:
I am glad Chelsea lost despite even though it means our arch rival won.
Putting aside club affiliations, I feel that Chelsea's loss is good for English football as it proves a point that money alone cannot buy footballing success.
You look at Redknapp and Allardyce who are doing well on shoe-string budgets. Granted that they can only go as far as a UEFA Cup place, I think that alone is very commendable given their resources.
Yes, money is important. Just look at where Leeds are right now. But money is definitely not the be all and end all of football.
YAY liverpool!! I'd wanted to blog about it but can't do it as detailed as you are... Someone [can't remember who] told me liverpool won't reach the finals. Ha! Yayness!
Good Job Liverpool!
-Mancunian
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