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Post by TennisHack on May 3, 2005 20:12:17 GMT -5
Jubilant Liverpool players including captain Steven Gerrard, right, celebrate their 1-0 win over Chelsea during their Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Tuesday May 3, 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Ellis) Liverpool's Luis Garcia, centre, celebrates scoring against Chelsea with John Arne Riise, right, and Djimi Traore during their Champions League semi-final 2nd leg match at Anfield, Liverpool, England, Tuesday, May 3, 2005. (AP Photo/ Phil Noble, PA) Liverpool's Luis Garcia, right, celebrates with teammate Steven Gerrard after scoring in the opening minutes against Chelsea during their Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Tuesday May 3, 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Ellis) ^--I like this one ;D
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Post by ILR on May 3, 2005 20:14:19 GMT -5
Rafa and Stevie Riise threw his kit into the crowd afterwards
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Post by TennisHack on May 3, 2005 20:15:44 GMT -5
Riise threw his kit into the crowd afterwards
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Post by ILR on May 3, 2005 20:16:50 GMT -5
Me too. I mean Stevie looks extra happy How come they never showed Riise almost naked on TV
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Post by TennisHack on May 3, 2005 20:18:10 GMT -5
Re: naked players, don't tell me you guys are as puritan as we are when it comes to the nekkid A boobie almost caused a riot over here, remember!
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Post by ILR on May 3, 2005 20:19:33 GMT -5
Oh yeah, I remember that Dont know why, would have been funny if they did! Maybe they ran out of time......
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Post by Dissident on May 3, 2005 21:20:51 GMT -5
What a shutting-up win! ;D I can imagine how happy and proud you are, Emma. Inter doesn't play a final of our continental league since the 80s! I wasn't even a football fan then! We have a VERY strong team this year, but we aren't playing up to our potential. I hope the luck changes fast! Anyway, back to Liverpool, it was not a beautiful game to watch, since it was so nervous and hard-fought. There are some specially gifted players on both teams, like Lampard, Cole and Robben for Chelsea and Gerrard, Baros and Garcia for Liverpool, but it was hard to play when you knew someone would knock you down in no time if you spent more than 3 seconds with the ball
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Post by TennisHack on May 4, 2005 0:31:04 GMT -5
Eurosport web commentary:
22:50 A thrilling night's action at Anfield! Join us tomorrow night to discover who will play Liverpool in the Champions League final. PSV attmept to overturn a 2-0 deficit at home to AC Milan - LIVE from 20:45CET! We'll see you then.
22:43 Jose Mourinho does his best to look magnanimous, applauding the Liverpool fans who mock him without mercy!
22:39 Yet another chorus of "You'll never walk alone" rings around Anfield. Stuttering in the league, seemingly on the brink of exit from Europe all season long, Liverpool have somehow made it to the final!
22:38 Chelsea are shattered! It's quite possibly the biggest setback of Jose Mourinho's managerial career and a sign that they are not invincible after all!
90' IT IS OVER!!! LIVERPOOL HAVE PULLED IT OFF, AND THEY ARE GOING TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL!!!
90+6' Confusion in the Liverpool box as Dudek collides with his defenders... FALLS TO GUDJOHNSEN!!!! VOLLEYS WIDE WITH THE GOAL GAPING!!!! A FAMOUS MISS!!! IT'S SURELY OVER!!
90+6' Bouncing ball in the Liverpool box... DOWN GOES KEZMAN!!! A CLEAR DIVE!!!
90+5' Biscan with a huge tackle on Terry!! The tables are being turned!
90+5' Corner Liverpool on the right, Chelsea without a chance in injury time!
90+4' Cissé with a chance to finish it, but Cech repels his prodded effort!!
90+3' Liverpool three minutes from the Champions League final. Chelsea three minutes from mortality!
90+3' Kezman trips Gerrard, and that's another free-kick. Rafa Benitez going absolutely bananas on the touchline!
90+2' Kewell wins a throw on the left off Makelele, who then fouls the Aussie!
90+2' Cissé and Terry involved in a bit of nonsense. Nothing in it really... free-kick Liverpool on the left.
90+1' Drogba heads into the head at the edge of the box, then Huth arrives and heads... straight at Dudek!
90+1' SIX MINUTES to be added on at the end of this second half!!
90' That's the worst corner of all time! Kewell lets the ball run under his foot from Riise and out for a goal-kick!
90' Cissé on the break for Liverpool.... his shot deflected off Carvalho and INCHES WIDE!!! Corner!
89' Huth as attacking catalyst... Robben gives it away! Woeful pass...
89' Gudjohnsen lobs over the top for Lampard, who is belatedly flagged offside!
88' Three minutes to play, plus injury time! Nuñez brings it out from the back but can only concede a throw.
87' Robben picks it up inside his own half but passes straight to the feet of Igor Biscan!
86' Great tackle by Carvalho, but the Chelsea move soon breaks down... Kewell takes it to the corner flag.
85' There's a streaker on the pitch... and while the stewards deal with him, another races across the pitch!! Great teamwork - certainly better than Chelsea have shown tonight! That was Jimmy Jump of Barcelona fame, incidentally.
84' LIVERPOOL: Antonio Nuñez replaces Luis Garcia, who goes off to huge applause.
84' Away comes Cissé on the break at high speed... takes a horrible touch and Gallas robs him!
83' Robben beats Finnan and crosses BRILLIANTLY!! Drogba misses it and Kezman deflects it well wide!!
82' Cech comes a long way out to chest the long ball down, then he passes backwards (!) to Gallas.
82' Garcia adjudged to have fouled Robben, who chucked himself down like the proverbial sack of spuds!
81' Gudjohnsen flicks the ball brilliantly past Traore but the cross is straight at Dudek!
81' Chelsea have just ten minutes to save their Champions League dream! It's a real siege of the Liverpool box now.
80' Carvalho in with another widowmaker of a tackle, this time on Riise. Still no yellow!
79' Every single person inside the ground is standing up.... such tension inside Anfield!
78' Traore crosses with pace from the left for CISSE!!! Wins the header but it was never going to cause Cech much trouble.
78' Riise finds Kewell on the left.... he puts in a low cross that Gallas intercepts and puts out for a throw.
77' Sensational tackle Steven Gerrard, once more halting Robben as he shaped to shoot!
76' CHELSEA: You what? Robert Huth replaces Geremi and immediately heads up front! Ze battering ram!
75' Robben!! Fires just over from the edge of the box!
75' Gallas pulls back for Gudjohnsen who finds Robben... onto his left and FIRES!! BLOCKED BY JAMIE CARRAGHER!!! Great tackle!
74' Carvalho chops Kewell and he's lucky not to be booked for that! He would have picked up a suspension!
73' LIVERPOOL: Harry Kewell replaces Didi Hamann. He'll play behind Cissé with Gerrard dropping deep.
72' Another dreadful cross from William Gallas. He's right, you know, he can't play left-back. Then Kezman's control lets him down.
72' Spot of head tennis in the Liverpool box, but it won't fall for a blue shirt...
71' 20 minutes to go, and still Liverpool have all the answers. Jose Mourinho cuts an unusually resigned figure on the bench!
70' Robben crosses towards Drogba but Hyypia gets there first. So much expectation on the shoulders of the mercurial Arjen Robben.
70' Presumably, Kezman will play a right-sided attacking role with Robben on the left...
69' CHELSEA: Arjen Robben and Mateja Kezman on for Joe Cole and Tiago.
68' Lampard with his best corner of the night, now there's some menace in the Chelsea attack. The hosts scramble it clear!
67' Drogba places it, will he be given another crack? IT'S LAMPARD!!!! A stinging low drive that Dudek parries full stretch to his right!!!
66' Gallas loses possession oout on the left, but now Chelsea have another interesting free-kick after Traore upends Gudjohnsen...
66' Wallop! Steve Finnan launches a big clearance into touch.
65' Mateja Kezman getting ready to enter the fray...
64' Gudjohnsen fires over from 25m!! Frustration creeping in...
63' Lampard grabs the ball after going down under Cissé's challenge, but referee Michel says handball against the Chelsea man.
62' Drogba takes and blazes high over the top. Not special from the striker. Chelsea have not yet put a shot on target and that was a perfect chance to test Dudek...
62' Handball by Riise, and that's a dangerous free-kick 28m out just right of centre.
61' Eidur Gudjohnsen returns to action after treatment on that cut to his face.
60' Milan Baros didn't seem too happy to come off, but it makes sense for Liverpool to employ a centre forward with more physical presence.
59' Djibril Cissé readying himself to come on. It looks like he's got an ornamental garden cut into his head! He replaces Milan Baros.
58' Sensational 70m crossfield ball from Riise to Luis Garcia! Absolutely magical.
57' Geremi crosses left-footed... Drogba knocks it down with an awkward motion and Carragher wellies downfield.
56' Carvalho with a great sliding tackle on Baros and finds Lampard... the ball bounces off Joe Cole's heel. That lack of precision typical of their evening.
55' Near-constant Chelsea possession, with Liverpool content to hoof the ball clear and reorganise defensively.
54' Tiago adjudged to have fouled Hamann in the centre circle. Gudjohnsen and Mourinho gesture furiously on different sides of the ground!
54' Gerrard and Riise combine brilliantly down the left, but Riise's cross is not up to scratch.
53' Traore and Gudjohnsen tussle in the box and the Icelandic international goes down!! No penalty, but Gudjohnsen has a cut on his face, struck by a flailing limb.
52' Terry stays up for the corner but he's limping.... Carragher with a towering defensive header.
52' Poor delivery by Lampard and Finnan heads away. Geremi collects possession and Chelsea win a corner now.
51' Gerrard penalised for a foul on Gallas. Lampard to swing it in from the left...
51' No way through for Gudjohnsen as he looks for Drogba, who seems to have shaken off that first-half knock.
50' Gallas by the left corner flag, cuts inside and crosses, poorly.
49' Terry dominates Baros in the air again - that's a real mismatch!
48' Riise slices a shot well wide from the edge of the box! He's got a rocket shot on him, but not this time...
47' Not a great clearance by Cech and Hamann pounces on it... his chest control is not what it might be and Chelsea take over.
46' Welcome back, as Chelsea get the second half under way! A series of replays cannot tell us whether the ball was over the line for the Garcia goal...
46' MATCH STATUS: The present scoreline makes the maths very simple. If Liverpool hold on to win, they go through. If not, Chelsea go to the final. It's on a knife-edge!
45+1' Half-time! Liverpool lead 1-0 on the night and by the same score on aggregate. At least Chelsea now know that if they avoid defeat they will go through. But the debates over whether Luis Garcia's effort crosses the line are sure to rage throughout the break and beyond!
45+1' Down goes Luis Garcia under a Tiago challenge. Not much in that, nor in the resultant free-kick.
45' Chelsea's lack of penetration means we will surely see Arjen Robben sooner rather than later. Might he be a half-time sub for Drogba with Gudjohnsen going up front?
44' Carvalho launches a speculative long-ranger, but it is halted by a sea of legs.
43' Lampard turns and lobs a ball over the top for Drogba to chase, but he doesn't look comfortable. Mateja Kezman already warming up. Mikael Forsell also on the bench.
con'd
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Post by TennisHack on May 4, 2005 0:32:14 GMT -5
42' A light mist of precipitation continues to fall to keep the surface nice and slick.
41' Drogba has been upended by Carragher and stays down. Nothing much in that challenge, but Drogba hops painfully off!
40' Nice tracking down by Cole, who doesn't allow Finnan to clearance and instead forces Liverpool to throw it out from the back.
39' That looked to come off Gallas, but the referee signals corner on the Chelsea left! Riise gets a head to it and Traore completes the clearance.
38' Some of the Liverpool fans are chanting "Easy! Easy!" How quickly joy turns to arrogance...
37' Hamann with a diagonal ball into the box forn Baros, but the little Czech is a couple of inches too short and can only glance his header out for a goal-kick.
36' Gallas sends in a decent cross with his swinger but Drogba inexplicably declined to shoot, letting the ball skip harmlessly by!
35' Geremi against Traore down the Chelsea right.... Traore prevails to win a goal-kick!
34' Baros caught in the head by John Terry, but it was a fair challenge from the Chelsea skipper as he went up for the header.
33' This is a real test of Chelsea's normally-unshakeable self-belief. They have hardly had a sniff of goal but need to shrug off any doubts and keep attacking.
32' Dudek slices a clearance high in the air. The Pole on his way out of Anfield if recent newspaper reports are to be believed.
31' Half an hour gone, and Liverpool could hardly be happier. They have kept their opponents quiet and taken a crucial edge in the tie. But a single Chelsea goal would change it all!
30' Tiago launches a Garryowen into the Liverpool box... Dudek makes another commanding catch!
30' Cole in late on Carragher. It was a silly trip but not worthy of a booking. And Lubos Michel agrees!
29' Here come Chelsea on the break.... Gudjohnsen coming clear with pace and sliding it through for Drogba, but the big Ivorian was holding Carragher back there and it's a free-kick.
28' A big appeal for hands against John Terry on the edge of the Chelsea box... ball to hand, says referee Michel!
27' Geremi picks out a superb ball into danger for DROGBA!! Dudek gets there first, but that was a moment of real menace!
26' Hamann whips in a long-shot first time, but Cech is equal to it!!
26' Hyypia upends Cole at the edge of the box with a firm but fair challenge.
25' Luis Garcia loses possession to Lampard who prods a through ball to the left of the box for Cole.... Dudek comes out and makes it hard for Cole, who clips a ball over the top! A sigh of relief from Luis Garcia!!
25' Neat Chelsea interplay involving Lampard, Drogba and Tiago.... it breaks down.
24' Biscan in two-footed on Carvalho... a crunching tackle but no harm done!
23' Gerrard tries a killer through pass to Luis Garcia... Gallas does brilliantly to get back and cut it out!
22' Chelsea enjoying long spells of possession, but they don't look much like scoring.
21' A more-than-satisfactory first 20 minutes for Liverpool, who have scored that crucial first goal in the tie!
20' Chelsea throw on the right, deep inside Liverpool territory... Makelele's cross blocked by Gerrard.
19' Gudjohnsen gets in behind Biscan and Hamann, but he can't get the ball to Drogba. Frustration for Mourinho and Chelsea.
18' Chelsea work the ball around the edge of the Liverpool box... Tiago finds half a yard to shoot, but drags it wide left-footed!
17' Superb solo run by Baros to take the ball away on the break. But the Czech is so often isolated, and once again he loses out to Ricardo Carvalho.
16' Chelsea free-kick, this time Lampard floats it into the box. Hyypia up to head clear.
15' Brilliant reverse pass by Cole to pick out the run of Drogba down the right channel... tries to cut inside Drogba but Carragher dispossesses him! Chelsea's best move so far!
14' Geremi has his hands all over Luis Garcia, but referee Michel says play on!
13' Hamann snapshot!! A decent left-footed effort but it rebounds off the feet of Terry.
13' Cleared for a throw by Riise, who has added a blond-tipped mini-mohawk to his usually workaday ginger hair.
12' Eleven men behind the ball from the home side as Chelsea pass it around. They'll be taking no unnecessary risks, that's for certain!
11' Liverpool held out for a clean sheet against Juventus in the last round, can they do so again? One thing is likely - Chelsea will pose more of a goal threat than the lacklustre Italians.
10' Traore on the run but he lacks direction and purpose, and he is dispossessed by Makelele.
9' That booking for Baros a clear warning to thos on yellow cards from previous matches - it's so easy to pick up a yellow and miss the final.
8' Baros on a pacy run, but he has his head down and runs away from goal.... he loses out to Ricardo Carvalho and chops him. Yellow card! That's a tough decision from Lubos Michel.
8' With that first goal of the tie, the equation is clear - If Liverpool win, they go through. If they do not, Chelsea progress.
7' Rafa Benitez looks ice-cold on the Liverpool bench. He's about the only person inside the stadium who is...
6' Lampard with a pacy free-kick into the Liverpool box... headed clear.
con'd
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Post by TennisHack on May 4, 2005 0:32:31 GMT -5
5' Liverpool take the edge!! Although, had Luis Garcia not scored, Cech might have been sent off!
4' LUIS GARCIA!!! Liverpool in front! Gerrard flicked a ball over the top for Baros, who raced through and was taken out by Cech. Garcia prodded goalwards and it was deemed to have crossed the line before it was cleared by Gallas!
4' A slight slip from Geremi, who has been preferred to Glen Johnson at right back.
3' Luis Garcia pulls Gallas's shirt and that's a Chelsea free-kick. These two in a right tussle early doors.
2' Lampard with an inswinging free-kick... a confident first touch for Jerzy Dudek!
2' The surface is slippy after some light rain, and Joe Cole is down. It looks like Finnan trod on him, but the England man is fine.
1' No free-kick for William Gallas, who went down under that challenge from Luis Garcia.
1' GAME ON!! Steven Gerrard and Milan Baros get us under way!
20:44 An enormous round of boos as Chelsea go towards the Kop!
20:44 John Terry wins the toss and chooses to defend the Kop first half. Liverpool will kick off.
20:43 The players stand for the Champions League anthem. A rather bizarre ritual, this!
20:42 OUT COME THE TEAMS!!! What a reception for these teams, or more accurately, for Liverpool!
20:37 The Kop is packed and there's a tremendous atmosphere inside Anfield. The Liverpool fans hold their scarves aloft and sing 'You'll never walk alone'. There's no doubting these European nights really are something special!
19:44 The team announcements are in, and the sides line up much as expected. The main news is that Damien Duff has not made the Chelsea bench, although it hardly comes as a great surprise.
19:00 Team news, match status, disciplinary situation... Click the link below for eveything you wanted to know about Liverpool v Chelsea but were afraid to ask. All to play for in Anfield showdown
17:30 Tonight's referee Lubos Michel is one of Europe's strictest officials. With five of the starting 22 a yellow card away from missing the final, both sets of players will have to watch their step.
11:15 WHO WILL WIN? Sir Alex Ferguson (grumpy Scot): "I am not getting in to that..."
11:10 WHO WILL WIN? Harry Redknapp (Southampton motivator): "The first leg was terrific for Liverpool, but Chelsea are still slight favourites. There's nothing quite like European nights at Anfield, the place will be absolutely incredible. It will be a great second leg."
11:05 WHO WILL WIN? Arsene Wenger (Arsenal's bespectacled avuncular tactician extraordinaire): "The result of the first game suits Chelsea. Liverpool will have to sort out how to attack without conceding against Chelsea."
11:00 WHO WILL WIN? David O'Leary (Aston Villa boss): "Tactically, I don't expect much to change from the first leg. Liverpool have surprised me, but because Chelsea have not conceded, I'm going with them." (Does he know that Liverpool have not conceded either?!)
10:55 WHO WILL WIN? Alan Curbishley (Charlton helmsman): "Both teams can be classed as favourites. Liverpool will have the crowd but they'll have to come at Chelsea more than they did at Stamford Bridge."
10:50 WHO WILL WIN? Alain Perrin (Portsmouth directeur sportif): "Liverpool can use their fans as power when they tire, but I have a small preference for Chelsea. Drogba was mine at Marseilles and I want him to score."
10:45 WHO WILL WIN? Stuart Pearce (Man City gaffer): "The first half an hour will be cruicial. If Chelsea score then it will be over. If Liverpool hold on, then they will fancy their chances. I think it'll be absolutely fascinating."
10:40 WHO WILL WIN? Martin Jol (Spurs manager): "If Duff and Robben play, Chelsea will do it. If not, then Liverpool have a good chance."
10:25 YELLOW PERIL: Certain players stand to miss the final at Istambul if they pick up a booking tonight... They are - Finnan, Carragher, Hamann, Warnock (for Liverpool); Gallas, Carvalho, Smertin, Johnsen, Kezman (for Chelsea).
10:05 FACT: Chelsea might be the talk of the town (nation, continent, world) but their away form in the Champions League leaves much to be desired. Indeed, they lie on the back of three-straight defeats: 3-2 at Bayern, 2-1 at Barca, and 2-1 at Porto. In the first two cases, Mourinho's men has worthy cushions to take on their travels, and in the last the team had already ensured qualification from their group. The question is: how will Chelsea cope taking no advantage whatsoever into their second leg bout? We'll soon find out.
10:00 Chelsea likely penalty takers: Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Eidur Gudjohsen, Didier Drogba, John Terry. With three Englishmen there, Blues fans might have cause for concern...
09:55 Liverpool likely penalty takers: Milan Baros, Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise, Luis Garcia, Harry Kewell.
09:50 With both sides putting out pretty defensive line-ups, it might take a penalty shoot out to decide who will face Milan or PSV in the final...
09:45 Chelsea probable team: Cech, Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, Gallas, Tiago, Makelele, Lampard, Gudjohnsen, Cole, Drogba. Subs from: Cudicini, Smertin, Buth, Duff, Robben, Kezman, Forsell, Johnsen. Doubtful: Duff, Robben. Injured: Ferreira, Bridge, Parker.
09:30 Liverpool likely line up: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hypia, Traoré, Luis Garcia, Biscan, Hamann, Riise, Gerrard, Baros. Subs from: Carson, Le Tallec, Kewell, Warnock, Cissé, Smicer, Nunez. Injured: Mellor, Sinama-Pongolle, Kirkland, Josemi. Suspended: Alonso.
08:15 Hello and welcome to the Big One! Newly crowned Premiership champions Chelsea travel up to Anfield to face Rafa Benitez's Liverpool with the scores level at 0-0 in this all-Engligh second-leg European Cup semi-final! Eurosport.com brings you the build up, the talking points, the team news and, of course, the event itself, exclusively live from 20:45 CET...
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Post by TennisHack on May 4, 2005 21:46:27 GMT -5
Ambrosini saves ragged Milan Eurosport - Alex Chick 04/05/05
A late Massimo Ambrosini header was enough to take AC Milan into the Champions League final despite being run ragged by an inspired PSV on Wednesday. Despite losing 3-1 in Eindhoven on the night, the Italians went through on the away goals rule after the aggregate score finished 3-3.
The match was heading for extra time after Park Ji-Sung and Philip Cocu struck to see PSV mirror last Wednesday's 2-0 scoreline.
But on the stroke of 90 minutes Kakà was allowed to cut onto his right foot and pick out the unmarked Ambrosini, who beat Gomes from close range.
Needing two goals to go through, PSV got one immediately when Cocu volleyed sensationally past Dida from 20m. Yet time ran out on the Dutch, whose heroic efforts over the two legs proved in vain. Milan go through to play Liverpool the final on May 25th in Istanbul.
If only football matches lasted just 88 minutes - all three of Milan's goals came in the final sixty seconds of their respective half.
These late shows are no accident. Every great side has the concentration and application to give their all until the final whistle, and it was this quality that got Milan out of jail against a side that clearly had the measure of them.
JUGULAR
Having foolishly admitted the chaos PSV caused in the first leg, Milan were equally unprepared when their opponents once again went for the jugular.
The wonderful Park Ji-Sung marred a fine performance last week by missing a host of chances. He needed less than ten minutes to make amends, lashing high past Milan 'keeper Dida after initiating a deft one-two with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.
It was the first European goal the Brazilian had conceded since November, when Barcelona's Ronaldinho beat him in a group phase match.
Carlo Ancelotti's side slowly worked their way into the game, but could have gone two down before the half hour when the towering Vennegoor of Hesselink glanced a header against the crossbar with Dida beaten.
The second half was much the same, with defence-minded Milan seemingly uninterested in, and incapable of, finding a route to goal.
RAPTURES
That changed on 64 minutes when Park's South Korea team-mate Lee Young-Pyo dazzled Cafu before planting a sensational cross on the head of Cocu. The veteran midfielder's downward header gave Dida little chance and sent the Philips Stadion into raptures.
A surprising recipient of the captain's armband when the injured Paolo Maldini went off at half-time, Ambrosini became increasingly influential after the break.
With ten minutes left in normal time he registered Milan's first shot on target when left unmarked at a corner. He ought to have buried the header but put it too close to PSV goalkeeper Gomes, who produced an agile parry despite the surprise of being called into action.
Next time he made no mistake as he once again ghosted in unmarked to break the hearts of a PSV side who deserved better than such a cruel exit.
Spectacular as it was, Cocu's consolation strike was little more than a footnote as the Dutchmen were left no more than a minute to chase what would have been an incredible winner.
After orchestrating the magisterial elimination of Manchester United and city neighbours Inter, the rossoneri looked lacklustre and lumbering against the enthusiasm and darting movement of Guus Hiddink's marvellous side.
Milan stagger through, but Rafa Benitez and Liverpool will fancy their chances against a side whose aura of invincibility has been well and truly shattered.
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Post by TennisHack on May 4, 2005 21:48:15 GMT -5
Eurosport web commentary:
23:00 Thanks for joining us on a thrilling night of Champions League action. So, it's AC Milan who will face Liverpool in Istanbul on April 25th where they will play for club football's biggest prize. And of course, you can follow all the build up and the match itself with Eurosport.com. Goodnight!
22:36 PSV simply heartbroken!! They have battered Milan over two legs, but goals in the final minute of each leg have seen them eliminated in the cruellest possible circumstances!
90+4' ALL OVER!!! AC Milan have been given the fright of their lives but go through on away goals after a torrid 90 minutes!! Massimo Ambrosini's goal right on full time enough to see them through to a final showdown against Liverpool on May 25th!!
90+3' Long ball knocked into danger... Dida makes a crucial catch!
90+3' Time running out on PSV, 45 seconds left as Ambrosini blocks Farfan's through ball with an athletic leap!
90+2' NOT OVER YET!!!! Philip Cocu keeps the tie alive with a remarkable volley!!! But PSV need one more!!!
90+1' MILAN HAVE WON IT!!!! MASSIMO AMBROSINI WITH A GLANCING HEADER!!!! Heartbreak for PSV!!! Kaka was allowed to cut in from the left and pick out the unmarked Ambrosini with his right foot, and Gomes coudl not keep the header out!
90' Robert's taking them all on!!! Finally Stam puts a stop to his mazy run!
89' Farfan appelas for a handball, but he does so in vain.
89' Milan look more intent on ending it within 90 minutes, but Gattuso's ball is too heavy for Tomasson and PSV break again.
88' Shevchenko rises to meet Pirlo's corner!! His glancing header always going wide of the far post!!
87' Pirlo swings it onto the head of Stam, whose effort is deflected for a corner.
86' Gattuso throws himself to the deck and is awarded a soft, soft free-kick 30m out on the right side...
86' Five minutes plus around two or three minutes of injury time for either side to win it...
85' Cafu wants a goal-kick but the linesman flags for a throw. The Brazilian launches one long downfield...
84' Ambrosini upends Van Bommel, but the stand-in Milan captain helps his opposite number back to his feet.
83' Lee again fortunate to get the free-kick from Cafu, but then limps temporarily off...
82' Remember, a Milan goal now would eliminate the possibility of extra time and leave PSV needing two to go through. In short, it would end the tie.
81' After so much defensive rigoiur, that was appalling from PSV. Maybe that warning shot will whip them back into shape. We're ten minutes from extra time...
80' Shevchenko wins a corner off the shins of Cafu and up come the big guns.... AMBROSINI!!!! Completely unmarked!! Gomes makes a decent parry but Ambrosini should have scored!!
79' Pirlo plays it short and then plays the second ball to the back post... headed clear by the towering Alex.
78' Alex concedes a corner with Tomasson and Ambrosini in attendance...
77' Farfan fires just wide from fully 25m!! Dida was scrambling!
77' Robert nudges the ball away from Cafu and rasps one goalwards from a tight angle!!! Dida forced into a diving save!!
76' In a virtual repeat of Chelsea's lacklustre attacking last night, Milan have not yet put a shot on target. Gomes has been a virtual spectator tonight!
76' Cocu delivers another swirling ball into danger... well up Dida!
75' Cafu trips Lee but once again referee Hauge keeps his cards in his pocket. Sensible refereeing as it hasn't been a malicious game at all.
74' Lee gets tangled up with Cafu, whose muted penalty appeals are turned down. That was awkward from the Korean.
73' Shevchenko tries to 'roulette' past Lucius, but succeeds only in conceding a throw!
72' Gattuso is used to being the man harrassing and harrying in midfield, but tonight it has been Mark van Bommel snapping at his heels every time he has been on the ball!
71' Van Bommel punished for what looked a 50-50 challenge on Pirlo...
70' PSV: Robert replaces Bouma, who was struggling with his back injury.
70' The fans inside the Philips Stadion are going crazy. This is almost beyond their wildest dreams.
69' MILAN: Clarence Seedorf makes way for Jon Dahl Tomasson with the visitors chasing the game. More jeers for the ex-Ajax man Seedorf.
68' Kaladze rises high to head the corner away... now Milan need a goal!
67' Van Bommel slips as he crosses but wins a corner off Stam...
66' It was a sensational cross and a firm downward header, but Dida should have kept that out. As it stands we are heading for extra time and maybe penalties!
65' Lee razzes past Cafu to the left touchline.... fantastic ball back post for COCU!!!!! Heads past Dida and the tie is... tied!!
64' Milan corner on the right... up comes Stam. Well-defended by the Dutchmen, Lucius with the telling clearance.
63' Nicely worked around the edge of the Milan box, but Park's ball wide to Lee has too much juice on it and fires out for a throw.
62' PSV pass the ball slickly around. Commendable patience, but they'll have to carve out some concrete chances at some point...
61' Pirlo swings the free-kick straight into the arms of Gomes. Half an hour to go, and this is still anybody's!
60' Kaladze awarded a free-kick after another mild challenge by Farfan. It must have been for holding.
59' Cafu crosses deep for the isolated Shevchenko, who is forced to head on goal from an unpromising position... it goes harmlessly wide.
58' Chances here as Kakà and Shevchenko race clear... Kakà delivers the ball and LUCIUS CUTS IT OUT!!! Great last-ditch intervention from the PSV right-back!
57' Jeers as Seedorf takes control of the ball.... and cheers as he runs the ball straight out of play!!
57' Lee's low cross rolls all the way across the box for ALEX!!! Lashes his first-time shot high over the bar!
56' Gattuso goes shoulder to shoulder with Lee and is penalised... there didn't seem much wrong with that. Once more Van Bommel will deliver into the box.... Gattuso heads clear.
55' Milan are absolutely rocked back on their heels! They are getting more and more men behind the ball in an effort to weather the storm.
54' PSV win another header through Cocu, but this time he heads over!
53' And another chance for Van Bommel out the left... headed clear to the edge of the box... BOUMA!!!! His goalbound effort ricochets back off Ambrosini!!
53' Van Bommel to deliver from out wide again... rubbish ball, cut out by the one-man wall!
52' Kakà chops the fleet-footed Lee and is lucky not to be booked!
51' Farfan penalised for a very mild challenge on Kakà. Not easy to see what was wrong with that.
50' PSV stop playing with Ambrosini down injured.... but Shevchenko doesn't!!! It was lucky he was flagged offside there otherwise all hell would have broken loose!
50' Farfan raiding down the right.... crosses low for PARK!!! The ball bounces up on him and he completely shins the shot! That could have been two...
49' Goos evening, Sir! Kakha Kaladze lets Farfan know he's around with a humdinbger of a sliding challenge!
48' Milan come away on the break with Kakà and Seedorf... the Dutchman gives a badly overhit through ball and Gomes collects.
47' Vennegoor of Hesselink works the ball to Van Bommel in space... slips and his shot bobbles inocuously for Dida.
46' PSV start the second half with great expectations!
46' MILAN: The groggy Paolo Maldini has gone off, replaced by Kakha Kaladze. He will go to left-back with Jaap Stam slotting into the centre.
45+3' Half-time in Eindhoven, and it's game on! Milan still lead 2-1 on aggregate. Another PSV goal will send us to extra time, but if Milan score the Dutchmen will need three!
45+2' Lucius in possession again on the right corner of the box... STRIKES!!! A firm effort that forces Dida into a diving save!
45+2' Lucius's cross finds its way to Van Bommel on the far side of the box... he can't pick out Farfan.
45+1' Two minutes of stopage time to be added on.
45' Park tires to flick a through ball for Vennegoor, but it's a couple of yards to the striker's left and Cafu tidies up.
con'd
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Post by TennisHack on May 4, 2005 21:48:35 GMT -5
44' Maldini sells Dida short with the backpass and the 'keeper races out to beat Farfan to it!! He wallops out of play!
43' The home side look happy to play out the rest of the half. They're obviously anxious and will be happy to go in a goal up.
42' Milan pressing harder.... the last thing PSV want is to concede another goal late in the first half!
41' Cafu crosses low to the edge of the box for KAKAAAAA!!! Thumps a first-time shot and Alex repels it with a fine block!
40' Alex wins the ball from Kakà but he was adjudged to have had his foot up!
39' Van Bommel with another superb delivery from the right... ALEX!!! Arrives at the back stick but his downward header bounces up and over the bar!
38' Shevchenko's cross from the right is deflected into the path of CAFUUUU!!! Blazes high into the night sky! Should at least have worked Gomes.
37' Pirlo swings it in... straight into the hands of Gomes!
36' Lucius is caught napping and Seedorf gets a shot away! Deflected for a corner.
34' Maldini and Farfan get up close and personal. It's certainly a mismatch in terms of size but the little Peruvian certainly has other gifts.
33' A huge spell of Milan possession, but it results in absolutely no end product whatsoever.
32' A real buzz continues to course around this compact 33000-seater ground. Milan admitted they were unsettled in the first leg and so it is again!
31' Bouma smites it into the wall although the trajectory suggests it would have kept rising over the bar anyway.
30' Cafu trips Vzn Bommel, dangerous free-kick 28m from goal left of cnetre...
29' Pirlo diagonally towards Ambrosini in the box... offside.
28' Van Bommel with an inswinging free-kick.... VENNEGOOR!!!! OFF THE BAR!!!! A fine glancing header, Dida was beaten!! he rose above everyone but could not get over the ball, and ultimately that is what saved the visitors!
27' Park looks wide for Lee, who is brought down by Pirlo. Free-kick PSV.
26' Seedorf's touch is just a little off tonight, as it was in last week's game. Let's see if he can pick up the standard.
24' PSV are defending very high up the pitch and there's a big danger that Shevchenko could spring the offside trap...
23' Here come Milan on the break with Kakà... the attack lacks pace and PSV swarm back to crowd out Kakà and Shevchenko.
22' You can see by the recent dearth of exclamation marks that things have calmed down considerably since that opening goal...
21' Lucius volleys goalwards from long range, but it cannons back off Stam.
20' Shevchenko nips the ball past Alex and races away... Cocu is back to cover!
19' Milan starting to find their feet. They have finally worked out a genuine structure in midfield and look much more solid.
18' Oof!! Alex barges into countryman Kakà without censure from a so-far lenient referee.
17' Gattuso in late on Van Bommel, who will deliver the free-kick... a shout for hands in the Milan box but to no avail.
16' There's a sign of nerves. Shevchenko's normally impeccable control lets him down as he deflects Seedorf's long pass out for a PSV throw!
15' Park appeared to be fouled in full flight, but referee Terje Hauge says play on!
14' Kakà crosses from the right... fine defensive intervention from Vogel.
13' Shevchenko bends his run and is just onside, but Alex beats him to the through ball.
12' PSV have settled nicely since the goal and are playing the ball about with much greater assurance. For Milan, nasty memories of last year's 4-0 capitulation to Deportivo La Coruña come flooding back...
con'd
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Post by TennisHack on May 4, 2005 21:48:51 GMT -5
11' Gomes palms Gattuso's cross awkwardly away and Shevchenko nearly pounces on the rebound! A single Milan goal would leave PSV needing FOUR to go through. As it stands, PSV need one to send the game to extra time.
10' What a start! That makes it 2-1 on aggregate (to Milan). There's still plenty of work to do, but this game is blasting off!
9' PAAAAAARRRRK!!!!!! The Korean has put a match to this tie with a wonderful goal!! He played a lovely through ball for Vennegoor, seized on the rebound and lashed high into the net! No chance Dida!
9' BRAVISSIMO!! Paolo Maldini is back on. What a legend.
8' Silky footwork by Lee to beat Cafu and deliver a cross... Stam heads clear.
7' Maldini is stretchered off and that is surely the end of his evening. Let's hope it's not too serious. Extraordinary courage from Paolo Maldini - he knew full well he would be kicked to kingdom come.
6' The Milan skipper has stayed down after that blow to the head and you can't blame him. That was quite an impact.
5' Farfan wins the header and loops it to VENNEGOOR OF HESSELINK!!! Tries an ambitious scissor kick but gets a bootful of Maldini!!
4' In the interests of accuracy, it's worth saying that Milan are not all in white - they in fact sport black socks. It's hard to know why anyone would fail to spot that first time around, but there you go. Even we at Eurosport.com are fallible...
4' Here's Cafu on the right.... his cross a poor one, straight at Gomes.
3' PSV passing the ball riskily around at the back! You don't want to mess around with Andriy Shevchenko in attendance...
2' A towering header from Vennegoor of Hesselink, but he can only find former PSV man Jaap Stam.
1' Off we go! AC Milan, all in white, get us under way!
20:44 The Milan coaching staff are wearing what look rather like the kind of jackets 1960s 'rockers' would wear. Maybe they're planning to go out later and beat up some mods? Only kidding.
20:43 After the bizarre ritual of the Champions League anthem, the toss... Mark van Bommel wins the toss and chooses ends. Milan will kick off.
20:40 A reminder of those walking a disciplinary tightrope: Gomes, Vogel, Van Bommel, Vennegoorn Cocu, Ambrosini.
20:40 The teams come out to a huge roar at the Philips Stadion! These Dutchmen haven't given up hope!
20:00 The teams have been announced and both sides line up much as expected. PSV employ a three-pronged attack featuring Jefferson Farfan, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Park Ji-Sung. Milan operate in a conservative 4-5-1 with Massimo Ambrosini offering greater midfield bulk at the expense of Hernan Crespo.
09:33 Read the comments from Tuesday night's tense Champions League semi-final: RE-LIVE: Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
09:32 Of course, the winners will go through to meet Liverpool in the final in Istanbul on 25th May... and most neutral observers would prefer to see Milan go through. A PSV v Liverpool would be the second consecutive year that the final was contested between two of Europe's middleweights.
09:29 Milan's ANDREY SHEVCHENKO: "We're expecting it to be a battle in Eindhoven but we're used to those sort of games. There is no alternative and we are happy to have games like this because we want to win everything."
09:27 Milan's CAFU: "After the quarter-final first leg against Deportivo we had a very good advantage. We all know how that went. We must be more attentive in Eindhoven. We have a small lead, not a big one. We must exploit it in the best way and remain focused."
09:26 Milan, for their part, will have to be wary of complacency if they want to reach the final in Istanbul. Last season, the rossoneri let slip a 4-1 lead against Deportivo la Coruna...
09:25 PSV COACH GUUS HIDDINK: "We may opt for some bold changes, perhaps playing fewer men in defence."
09:24 Compatriot LEE YOUNG-PYO is similarly optimistic, although he reckons it will be a real slug-fest: "To beat Milan we must go all out for 90 minutes and fight for every ball. We can't afford to give them any space."
09:22 Nevertheless, PSV are remaining ebullient in the face of the challenge... PARK JI-SUNG, their Korean midfielder, is confident that his team can achieve the win required: "Nothing's impossible. We have to believe in ourselves."
09:20 AC MILAN TEAM NEWS: Carlo Ancelotti has a full squad from which to pick.. and he welcomes back influential defender Alessandro Nesta from suspension.
09:18 PSV TEAM NEWS: American Demarcus Beasley is out with damaged knee ligaments and Jefferson Farfan is a doubt with a twisted ankle.
09:16 Milan won the first leg 2-0 (courtesy of goals from Shevchenko and Tomasson) and PSV are struggling for strikers to overturn the deficit...
08:54 Welcome to eurosport.com's LIVE coverage of the Champions League semi-final second leg between PSV Eindhoven and AC Milan!!
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Post by TennisHack on May 24, 2005 23:50:52 GMT -5
Liverpool hope to keep European Cup - and their captain Wed May 25, 2005 3:00 AM BST By Kevin Fylan
ISTANBUL, May 25 (Reuters) - If Liverpool beat AC Milan in Wednesday's Champions League final they will get to keep the European Cup as five-times winners of the competition.
They might also get to keep Steven Gerrard.
The 24-year-old England midfielder changed his mind about walking away from the club at the end of last season after being persuaded that Rafa Benitez could bring glory back to the fading Anfield club.
If it is Gerrard himself holding the Champions Cup aloft some time around midnight at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, his faith in the Spanish manager will have been vindicated.
It would be a fifth European Cup win for Liverpool, their first since 1984, and it is almost impossible to imagine Gerrard leaving the club he loves in such happy circumstances.
The team only finished fifth in England's Premier League but they would be confident of getting special dispensation from UEFA to defend their trophy.
Defeat would offer them no such hope of a return to the Champions League and Gerrard, the best English midfielder in a generation, would have to contemplate a season spent slumming it in the UEFA Cup.
It will take the sort of inspirational display Gerrard has specialised in in the Champions League this season if the English side are to defy predictions and beat AC Milan.
The Liverpool captain took his team through the qualifiers with two goals against AK Graz and brought them back from the brink of elimination in their final group game against Olympiakos with a stunning late goal.
It was his relentless drive in the first leg against Juventus that set up Liverpool's unexpected quarter-final victory and he was peerless once again as the Reds held on to beat Chelsea in the second leg at Anfield.
"Gerrard is one of the strongest midfielders in the world right now," AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday.
"He has great qualities, with dynamism and personality but he cannot decide the match on his own."
If Liverpool lose, and Gerrard does decide to go, there would be no shortage of clubs eager to take him, even if Chelsea were to decide against returning with another massive bid after being unexpectedly turned down last year.
Real Madrid have expressed interest and the idea of joining former Liverpool team mate Michael Owen and England captain David Beckham might be too tempting to resist.
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Post by TennisHack on May 25, 2005 10:54:02 GMT -5
The final will be reshown tomorrow after the tennis on ESPN2 (2:30 pm EST). I believe it was shown live on ESPN Desportes.
Is it worth watching?
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Post by Lee on May 25, 2005 13:51:05 GMT -5
The final will be reshown tomorrow after the tennis on ESPN2 (2:30 pm EST). I believe it was shown live on ESPN Desportes. Is it worth watching? I'm about to find it out.
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Post by Lee on May 25, 2005 14:46:52 GMT -5
Liverpool down 0-3 at half time and IMO, quite a pathetic match so far.
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Post by ILR on May 25, 2005 14:56:20 GMT -5
oh god.........Im stunned. This is far worse than I ever could've imagined.
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Post by Lee on May 25, 2005 15:46:22 GMT -5
Gerrard whose goal revive his team and the fans.
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Post by Francine on May 25, 2005 15:54:44 GMT -5
Liverpool! I just came home and saw that they came back from 0-3 down! They have to win now, have to, have to, have to.
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Post by Lee on May 25, 2005 16:05:32 GMT -5
Milan is putting a lot of pressure right now.
It's so funny when Liverpool scored that 3 goals in 7 minutes. I was eating lunch with hubby (whose stayed home to work today) and he was talking during that stretch of time and my eyes were focused on the TV. I was awe and wow while he kept talking, mistaking me responding to what he said.
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Post by Lee on May 25, 2005 16:23:32 GMT -5
Brilliant, brilliant save but Dudek at 117 minutes.
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Post by Lee on May 25, 2005 16:27:42 GMT -5
I hate penalty shots........ The free kick at the dying minute was poorly executed by Liverpool.
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Post by Lee on May 25, 2005 16:40:09 GMT -5
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Post by Francine on May 25, 2005 16:44:04 GMT -5
Dudek ;D I can't believe he saved that shot from Sjevchenko, twice I think! And I've never seen anybody stop penaltis like that, what a clown
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Post by Lee on May 25, 2005 16:47:33 GMT -5
Dudek ;D I can't believe he saved that shot from Sjevchenko, twice I think! And I've never seen anybody stop penaltis like that, what a clown Yes, really weird motions he has but as long as he gets the job done....
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Post by DBBN on May 25, 2005 16:48:34 GMT -5
We watched this match at work! It was on after tennis! It made all of us very
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Post by TennisHack on May 25, 2005 17:04:25 GMT -5
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Post by ILR on May 25, 2005 17:33:34 GMT -5
My God!!!! Im so happy. This is by far the best Liverpool moment in at least a decade. 20 years was the last time we won it. so many times people talked about fate and us winning. I honestly didnt think we had a good enough team to win this competition. I never stopped believing but deep down I didnt think we'd win it. Its such an incredible feeling. Sometimes this club breaks my heart.....other times they make me so happy. omg!!!! I cant even speak. I need to stop crying.
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