Steven Gerrard with the European Cup
The save that won the Cup
The celebration that ensued
Liverpool beats AC Milan after trailing 3-0 at halftime…
Gone in 50 seconds, back in 6 minutes ...
FOOTBALL. Bloody hell, the printable expletives are utterly inadequate for the task of summing up a night of football mayhem. Bring out the asterisks: it was a night when football brought us the utterly impossible on a night of perfect insanity as Liverpool won the European Cup final on penalties after doing their best to lose it.
Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in the history of football. They created for themselves an utter disaster and somehow rose to find hope, and with it, power and effectiveness and purpose and direction. They turned a lost match around in six impossible minutes: one of those periods of total enchantment that happen in football, but very rarely.
Yet it seemed that they had managed to lose everything in less than a minute. After a season of ever-growing hope and burgeoning expectation, Liverpool looked as if they had lost the lot in a matter of 50 seconds. They conceded a goal more or less before a Liverpool player had touched the ball and were 3-0 down at half-time. It was humiliation.
But before you could say “Football. Bloody hell” they were back in it again. After being made to look like small-timers and second-raters, they came roaring back as if they were the old champions of the Eighties, the Liverpool side that expected to win European Cup finals as a matter of course. They drew level in that period of magic and took the game into extra time, a spooky period played in a mood close to emotional exhaustion.
Gerrard says he is staying! …
The celebrations, however, began ecstatically after Jerzy Dudek saved Andriy Shevchenko's spot-kick in the shoot-out and Gerrard said: 'How can I leave after a night like this and all the nights that I have experienced.
You'll Never Walk Alone
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver
Song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams
Be tossed and blown.
Walk on
walk on
With hope in your hearts
I And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone.
Walk on
walk on
Some days, you love sports more than others. For me, this is one of those days…
31 comments:
wow wow wow wow wow, three goals so fast like that? whew!
soccer is gay.
I loved Dudek's pre-penalty kick dance moves...especially the one that the announcers dubbed "spaghetti legs."
That was the first full soccer game I've ever watched and what a game it was! I thought AC Milan's 3-0 lead was insurmountable. Congrats to Liverpool and their fans!
I thought there was no way the Reds had any chance after that 1st Minute goal.
Tommy Smyth was pleading the UEFA to somehow allow Liverpool a Champions League berth. I don't know if I'm on board with that. I'm pretty damn sure Everton isn't...
Why is Liverpool celebrating a tie? I don't get soccer.
kevbo,
it's called a penalty shootout....they won 3-2, not a tie...get a clue biaaatch
What an amazing game...It was surreal moment after Xabi scored the penalty to even-up the match. Only after they scored the third goal do I believe the Reds had a shot at winning.
As for an exemption to enter next year's Champion's League, I hope they give the champs an exemption, but I don't want Everton losing their spot for the Reds.
I'm just glad that people who have never watched soccer realize that there is a much better product than the one that the MLS puts out.
There's a reason it's called the beautiful game in europe
The greatest game in the world still has a long long way to go to be understood by Americans but if anyone got half the passion from this game then you will realise why we love it so. For great after game reaction go here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/606/ and click on WEDS listen again. Lots of funny English voices for you Texans to listen too.
Graeme
P1 England
What's all the fuss about? It's not like you won the treble?!
Nick.
England.
After the garbage that was my arsenal's FA cup performance (lucky to have a win), what a great game yesterday. Love to see those damn-haughty Milan players/supporters eat it.
By the way, we might need a translator for all the "English" being thrown around...
Did ya'll hear the half-time chants by the 'pool fans? Something about gonna score 4 and beat you...so great!!!
Bob,
You might mention to all those who either want to re-live yesterday's glory, record it for posterity, or who are not soccer lovers but may be somewhat interested in the game considering the love we have given it all over your blog, that ESPN Classic will show the game tonight at 9pm central time.
Steve
'We're gonna win 4-3'
What a great chant.
Rangers tied up the Angels for 1st place today and not a word. Come on Bob.
Im not a big soccer fan, but I must say I was captivated by the double save of Dudek towards the end of overtime, or whatever they call it. But after the game, I was hit with something odd.
The announcer made a statement that Liverpool should be allowed to defend their cup, as if liverpool would not be able to remain in the leaue, something having to do with Everton...I got tirehead trying to figure it out, please help
Confused.
To enter the Champions League you must finish in the top 4 of the Premiership of the previous season. Liverpool finished 5th to Everton's 4th this season, therefore Liverpool won't be allowed to play in the Champion's League next year. There are no exemptions for Champions.
Walk On
By the way This Liverpool win is way bigger than the Rangers tieing for first place in the American League West at the beginning of the season.
Jerzy Dudek is a God. What incredible saves at the end of the 2nd extra time, and what incredible goalkeeping on the PKs even if he did look like a crazy chicken. Great game, I thought the Reds were cooked at the end of the first half. Way to go pool. Next year is Barca's year though, so look out.
Fat Brad...
nick is not a manc
notice his sign off
"Nick, England" (not manchester)
true mancs support man city
who could have a shot at europe if liverpool negotiate their way into the champs league next season
congrats bob, and all liverpool fans
blue moon
what kind of crap sport doesn't allow the champion to defend its title?
I guess, soccer.
Its great to see Dudek so clutch after all the weak goals he has given up over his years in red. Jerzy thanks for the win. Gerrard is King!!!
Soccer is for fags
i guess i won't be listening to bob and dan today....nothing but soccer talk. man, i tried to watch a match the other day, i couldn't stand it. and yes, i agree with the other guy....all that for a tie? i don't care if you have a shoot out, it's still a tie. it's like ending an NFL game with a tie, then having a field goal contest to settle it. just stupid.
Some people will never understand the beautiful game...
Congrats Liverpool!
actually it's more like a baseball game ending in a tie, then deciding the winner by having a hr derby or something...but i agree with you. i think that goes against the essance of sports...to spend my time watching an athletic event, then having it end that way is just a waste of time. thank god for american sports and triple overtime.
For all of those questioning what kind of a sport won't allow a champion to defend its title: you realize that the same thing can easily happen in NCAA basketball or football right? Liverpool didn't qualify for next season's tournament, just like an NCAA basketball champ might not one day.
YNWA
"For all of those questioning what kind of a sport won't allow a champion to defend its title: you realize that the same thing can easily happen in NCAA basketball or football right?">
Unlike Liverpool, the defending champion in any of the pro or collegiate sports here in the states still has the opportunity to defend that title during the following season. Sure, they may miss the playoffs altogether the next season, but it'll be because of what they did during the regular season and not the previous season.
Gay or not gay... the poses of the Liverpudlians pictured in the photo labeled "The celebration that ensued"
Biaatch,
Get your own damn clue. How could Liverpool be trailing 3-0 and win 3-2?
I realize now that they won in a shootout, but the official score was 3-3 (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/livescore/results?league=ALL&theDate=20050525&cc=5901).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/spl/hi/football/05/champions/wallpaper/html/wallpaper.stm
Amazing to seethe level of support liverpool has all over the world.
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!!!!!!!!
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