Liverpool won the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, hosted at the Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul, by beating AC Milan 3-2 on penalties after the match finished 3-3 after extra time. The match was remarkable for the fact that AC Milan had taken a 3-0 lead in the first half, only for Liverpool to mount an impressive comeback and level the score in the space of 6 second half minutes. As such, the match is often referred to by Liverpool fans as the Miracle of Istanbul.
The Match
Liverpool started the match with Harry Kewell in the starting line up, to the surprise of many as Kewell had spent much of the 2004-05 season injured. AC Milan took the lead in the 1st minute of the match, after Liverpool left back Djimi Traore conceded a free kick that was whipped into the Liverpool box by Andrea Pirlo for captain Paolo Maldini to score a volley. Harry Kewell suffered injury in the 18th minute, forcing Liverpool to bring on Vladimir Smicer. In the 39th minute, a swift counter attacking move saw a neat exchange of play between Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo resulting in the latter cleverly chipping Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek to put Milan 2-0 up. They scored their third goal 5 minutes later, as Crespo scored a similar chipped goal. Liverpool began the second half, bringing on midfielder Dietmar Hamann for right back Steve Finnan, altering their 4-4-1-1 formation to a 3-4-1-1. In the 54th minute, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard pulled a goal back for Liverpool, scoring a header from a John Arne Riise cross. Two minutes later, Smicer scored a long range effort and in the 60th minute, Xabi Alonso levelled the score. Gennaro Gattuso was judged to have fouled Steven Gerrard in the box, the referee awarding a penalty. Xabi Alonso's effort was saved by Milan 'keeper Dida, but Alonso scored the rebound. In extra time, with the game still level, Jerzy Dudek pulled off an instinctive double save from Andriy Shevchenko at point-blank range, sending the game to penalties.
Penalties
In the penalty shootout, Jerzy Dudek attempted to distract the Milan players by utilising the 'spaghetti legs' technique used famously by former Liverpool 'keeper Bruce Grobbelaar. Milan were first to take a penalty, which was put over the crossbar by Serginho. Dietmar Hamann scored Liverpool's first penalty, revealing later that he did so despite suffering a broken toe. Dudek saved Milan's second penalty, taken by Andrea Pirlo, and Liverpool took a 2-0 lead when Djibril Cisse scored his penalty. Jon Dahl Tomasson scored to reduce the deficit to 2-1, and Dida subsequently saved Liverpool's third spot kick, taken by John Arne Riise. Kaka levelled the score with his penalty, but Smicer restored Liverpool's advantage. Shevchenko needed to score his penalty to keep Milan in the competition, but Dudek saved his shot which went straight down the middle, handing Liverpool victory and with it, their fifth European Cup.
Details
| 25 May 2005 | Liverpool | 3-3 (AET) | AC Milan | Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerrard (54) Smicer (56) Alonso (60) |
Maldini (1) Crespo (39, 44) | |||
| Penalties | ||||
| Hamann Cisse Smicer |
3-2 | Tomasson Kaka |
Teams
Starting 11:
- Jerzy Dudek
- Steve Finnan
- Jamie Carragher
- Sami Hyypia
- Djimi Traore
- Xabi Alonso
- Luis Garcia
- Steven Gerrard
- John Arne Riise
- Harry Kewell
- Milan Baros
Substitutes:
Aftermath
As this was Liverpool's fifth European Cup victory, as per UEFA rules, Liverpool were permitted to keep the trophy itself, instead of being awarded a replica. A new Champions League trophy was therefore commissioned for the 2005-06 season.
Steven Gerrard was awarded the official man of the match award, and proclaimed, amidst speculation that he might transfer to Chelsea, that 'How can I think of leaving Liverpool after a night like this?'
Liverpool finished fifth in the 2004-05 Premier League season, and therefore had not qualified for the 2005-06 Champions League via their league position. The FA however successfully pursuaded UEFA to allow Liverpool entry into the tournament in order to defend their trophy. Liverpool entered the 2005-06 Champions League in the first qualifying round. UEFA subsequently altered their rules to state that Champions League winners automatically qualify for the next Champions League tournament, regardless of league position. If the winners failed to finish high enough in their domestic league to qualify for the Champions League, they would enter the competition at the expense of the lowest ranked team from countries that have more than one Champions League entrant.
Liverpool faced the UEFA Cup winners, CSKA Moscow, in August in the UEFA Super Cup match, which Liverpool won 3-1. Liverpool also participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, beating Deportiva Saprissa 3-0 in the semi final, before losing 1-0 to Sao Paolo in the final after having three goals disallowed.