Six Minutes to Crash Land!
If Yesterday was filled with dreams about the finals, today is a day with nightmares of the Same game! Milan had the best possible start when Maldini put them ahead from 12 yards from a cross from Pirlo, with just 50 seconds on the clock. From then on, it was all Milan as they completely dominated the game and Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf and the outstanding Kaka had control of the entire midfield with ease.
It was hardly a matter of time for Milan to score the second and kill Liverpool off, and it came in the 29th minute as Shevchenko fired in, but their joy is cut short as it's ruled out for offside, though it appeared close. Undeterred Milan pressed on and on the 39th minute, Crespo slotted in after some fine play by Shevchenko and Kaka. And at 44 minutes it looked like Milan were already on the podium, when Crepso got his second of the game with a sublime pass from the enigmatic Kaka. As the half time whistle blew, the Rossoneri walked back to the dressing room with their heads held high while the sad Reds trudged to the lockers with despondent looks on their faces.
The second half started in more or less the same fashion, with Milan dominating the early stages. They were on cruise control with eyes on the Cup, but on the 54th minute, the course of the game changed as Gerrard pulled one back with a neat header to give Liverpool a lifeline. what happened in the next 6 minutes was one for the history books and something which Milan would like to forget soon. Smicer made it 3-2 on the 56th minute and three minutes later Gattuso brought down Gerrard in the box and Alonso took the spot kick and crashed the rebound into the back of the net after Dida had blocked it initially. In 6 Minutes, Liverpool had leveled the scores and it was game on - with Liverpool all fired up from their amazing comeback and Milan rocket to the core.
Both the teams had chances in extra time to wrap it up particularly Milan, with Dudek denying Shevcehnko with a point blank header and then the followup drive from the talismanic striker.
The game moved on to penalties and it was now or never...Milan had to take the first kick and what ensued was...
0-0 Serginho fires high over the bar
0-1 Hamann drives it into the corner
0-1 Dudek saves Pirlo's kick
0-2 Cisse puts Liverpool 2 up.
1-2 Tomasson brings Milan into the shootout
1-2 Dida saves Riise's shot to give hope.
2-2 Kaka levels the score.
2-3 Smicer scores to put pressure on Milan
2-3 Shevchenko has to score to keep Milan in the game. At the center of the field, the Milan players stand together hanging on to their hopes. Shevchenko takes his run up and drives weakly to the center of the goal and Dudek saves! Dudek screams in delight. The Reds jump up in joy and the Rossoneri can't believe it. It's all over! Milan have lost the Champions League Final after leading 3-0 till 54 minutes!
Teams:
AC Milan: Dida, Cafu, Maldini, Stam, Nesta, Gattuso (Rui Costa 112), Seedorf (Serginho 86), Pirlo, Kaka, Shevchenko, Crespo (Tomasson 85).
Bench: Abbiati, Kaladze, Costacurta, Dhorasoo.
Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan (Hamann 46), Traore, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Kewell (Smicer 23), Baros (Cisse 85).
Bench: Carson, Josemi, Nunez, Biscan.
A picture of Red all over the stadium and happy voices singing 'You'll never walk alone' proved that Liverpool had completed the remarkable journey as the Champions of Europe. The Milan players looked around and at each other with forlorn faces and tears streaming down their cheeks. They Sadly accept the runners up medal with a faint smile and then Gerrard lifts the Cup high into the Turkish air with the entire Liverpool contigent cheering on.
Had Scevchenko's 29th minute strike been allowed it could have taken a different turn. Debates can go on forever, but Milan proved to be a team graceful in defeat and they acknowledged Liverpool as the Champions - any team which defeats Juventus and Chelsea are indeed worthy winners. Even though it is hard to accept the fact that Milan have lost, they can keep their chin up as they were outstanding on the field and are second best only to the Champions. Milan are still the elite and successful club that they were and will be back next year to conquer it!
Milan did their best and though it will take time to sink in, in my books and heart, they are still the greatest team and will be there for a long time in the history books for their remarkable achievements.
ciao!
It was hardly a matter of time for Milan to score the second and kill Liverpool off, and it came in the 29th minute as Shevchenko fired in, but their joy is cut short as it's ruled out for offside, though it appeared close. Undeterred Milan pressed on and on the 39th minute, Crespo slotted in after some fine play by Shevchenko and Kaka. And at 44 minutes it looked like Milan were already on the podium, when Crepso got his second of the game with a sublime pass from the enigmatic Kaka. As the half time whistle blew, the Rossoneri walked back to the dressing room with their heads held high while the sad Reds trudged to the lockers with despondent looks on their faces.
The second half started in more or less the same fashion, with Milan dominating the early stages. They were on cruise control with eyes on the Cup, but on the 54th minute, the course of the game changed as Gerrard pulled one back with a neat header to give Liverpool a lifeline. what happened in the next 6 minutes was one for the history books and something which Milan would like to forget soon. Smicer made it 3-2 on the 56th minute and three minutes later Gattuso brought down Gerrard in the box and Alonso took the spot kick and crashed the rebound into the back of the net after Dida had blocked it initially. In 6 Minutes, Liverpool had leveled the scores and it was game on - with Liverpool all fired up from their amazing comeback and Milan rocket to the core.
Both the teams had chances in extra time to wrap it up particularly Milan, with Dudek denying Shevcehnko with a point blank header and then the followup drive from the talismanic striker.
The game moved on to penalties and it was now or never...Milan had to take the first kick and what ensued was...
0-0 Serginho fires high over the bar
0-1 Hamann drives it into the corner
0-1 Dudek saves Pirlo's kick
0-2 Cisse puts Liverpool 2 up.
1-2 Tomasson brings Milan into the shootout
1-2 Dida saves Riise's shot to give hope.
2-2 Kaka levels the score.
2-3 Smicer scores to put pressure on Milan
2-3 Shevchenko has to score to keep Milan in the game. At the center of the field, the Milan players stand together hanging on to their hopes. Shevchenko takes his run up and drives weakly to the center of the goal and Dudek saves! Dudek screams in delight. The Reds jump up in joy and the Rossoneri can't believe it. It's all over! Milan have lost the Champions League Final after leading 3-0 till 54 minutes!
Teams:
AC Milan: Dida, Cafu, Maldini, Stam, Nesta, Gattuso (Rui Costa 112), Seedorf (Serginho 86), Pirlo, Kaka, Shevchenko, Crespo (Tomasson 85).
Bench: Abbiati, Kaladze, Costacurta, Dhorasoo.
Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan (Hamann 46), Traore, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Kewell (Smicer 23), Baros (Cisse 85).
Bench: Carson, Josemi, Nunez, Biscan.
A picture of Red all over the stadium and happy voices singing 'You'll never walk alone' proved that Liverpool had completed the remarkable journey as the Champions of Europe. The Milan players looked around and at each other with forlorn faces and tears streaming down their cheeks. They Sadly accept the runners up medal with a faint smile and then Gerrard lifts the Cup high into the Turkish air with the entire Liverpool contigent cheering on.
Had Scevchenko's 29th minute strike been allowed it could have taken a different turn. Debates can go on forever, but Milan proved to be a team graceful in defeat and they acknowledged Liverpool as the Champions - any team which defeats Juventus and Chelsea are indeed worthy winners. Even though it is hard to accept the fact that Milan have lost, they can keep their chin up as they were outstanding on the field and are second best only to the Champions. Milan are still the elite and successful club that they were and will be back next year to conquer it!
Milan did their best and though it will take time to sink in, in my books and heart, they are still the greatest team and will be there for a long time in the history books for their remarkable achievements.
ciao!
posted by His Royal Highness at 9:04 AM
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