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01/05/2007 23.08
CL Report: Pepe Reigns Supreme As Liverpool Shoot Chelsea Out Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea (pen.)
(1) 1-0 (1) after extra time.
Liverpool sealed their place in the final of the Champions League with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea.
Daniel Agger cancelled out Chelsea’s 1-0 first-leg lead with a fine low finish in the first-half but there were no further goals even after extra time, though Kuyt hit the bar and later had a goal ruled out for offside.
As the game headed into the shoot-outs, one thought Petr Cech would show his authority. However, it was Pepe who became the surpise hero.
Dirk Kuyt fired the winning penalty for Liverpool, after Zenden, Riise and Gerrard had also converted and Reina had denied Arjen Robben and Geremi.
First Half
Chelsea started strongly but after a few minutes Liverpool settled and scored from the first clear chance of the match.
Joe Cole gave away a free-kick on the left after fouling Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool captain’s set-piece was superbly disguised and Daniel Agger - the man vilified after the first leg - struck the ball first-time into the bottom left corner of the net.
Chelsea stepped up a gear and Reina saved a powerful strike from Didier Drogba after a through-ball from Jon Obi Mikel.
The Blues almost levelled the score before the break as Michael Essien nearly forced a header from Drogba over the line after a Frank Lampard corner.
Second Half
Into the second-half and Liverpool had chances to extend their lead. First Jermaine Pennant crossed and Peter Crouch’s header was just kept out by Petr Cech before John Terry cleared.
Five minutes later Kuyt thundered a header against the bar after a John Arne Riise cross. Essien then had to be on his mettle to clear the ball with Pennant lurking after a mistake from centre-back partner Terry.
Liverpool had a lucky escape when Ashley Cole crossed low and Jamie Carragher just beat Drogba to force the ball narrowly over the bar. Almost an own goal!
Reina was then alert to Drogba as he threatened to go through one-on-one and Bolo Zenden forced Cech into a save with a 20-yard effort.
Extra Time
So the match went into extra time and the main talking point was a disallowed Kuyt goal, for an offside call that remained inconclusive. One feared it could become the subject of post match controversy.
Cech saved a long-range strike from Xabi Alonso and the ball fell loose to Kuyt who fired into the roof of the net. Luckily for Jose Mourinho’s team the linesman had flagged for offside, although replays suggested the decision was marginal.
In the second-half Didier Drogba came close to converting a Shaun Wright-Phillips cross and Kuyt perhaps should have won it with seconds remaining. The Dutchman turned the Liverpool defence but his shot was at a nice height for Cech who beat the ball away.
Penalties
So to penalties. Bolo Zenden stepped up first and scored, but fellow Dutchman Arjen Robben’s spot-kick was saved by Reina who dived to his left.
Alonso then fired in low and Lampard gave Reina no chance with a fierce effort. 2-1 to Liverpool. Gerrard extended the Reds’ advantage but substitute Geremi saw his effort beaten away by Reina. Kuyt made no mistake with his penalty and there was no coming back from 4-1 down for Mourinho’s stunned players.
Liverpool will now meet either Milan or Manchester United in the final in Athens on May 23 after a gruelling clash at Anfield.
CL Report: Pepe Reigns Supreme As Liverpool Shoot Chelsea Out Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea (pen.)
(1) 1-0 (1) after extra time.
Liverpool sealed their place in the final of the Champions League with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea.
Daniel Agger cancelled out Chelsea’s 1-0 first-leg lead with a fine low finish in the first-half but there were no further goals even after extra time, though Kuyt hit the bar and later had a goal ruled out for offside.
As the game headed into the shoot-outs, one thought Petr Cech would show his authority. However, it was Pepe who became the surpise hero.
Dirk Kuyt fired the winning penalty for Liverpool, after Zenden, Riise and Gerrard had also converted and Reina had denied Arjen Robben and Geremi.
First Half
Chelsea started strongly but after a few minutes Liverpool settled and scored from the first clear chance of the match.
Joe Cole gave away a free-kick on the left after fouling Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool captain’s set-piece was superbly disguised and Daniel Agger - the man vilified after the first leg - struck the ball first-time into the bottom left corner of the net.
Chelsea stepped up a gear and Reina saved a powerful strike from Didier Drogba after a through-ball from Jon Obi Mikel.
The Blues almost levelled the score before the break as Michael Essien nearly forced a header from Drogba over the line after a Frank Lampard corner.
Second Half
Into the second-half and Liverpool had chances to extend their lead. First Jermaine Pennant crossed and Peter Crouch’s header was just kept out by Petr Cech before John Terry cleared.
Five minutes later Kuyt thundered a header against the bar after a John Arne Riise cross. Essien then had to be on his mettle to clear the ball with Pennant lurking after a mistake from centre-back partner Terry.
Liverpool had a lucky escape when Ashley Cole crossed low and Jamie Carragher just beat Drogba to force the ball narrowly over the bar. Almost an own goal!
Reina was then alert to Drogba as he threatened to go through one-on-one and Bolo Zenden forced Cech into a save with a 20-yard effort.
Extra Time
So the match went into extra time and the main talking point was a disallowed Kuyt goal, for an offside call that remained inconclusive. One feared it could become the subject of post match controversy.
Cech saved a long-range strike from Xabi Alonso and the ball fell loose to Kuyt who fired into the roof of the net. Luckily for Jose Mourinho’s team the linesman had flagged for offside, although replays suggested the decision was marginal.
In the second-half Didier Drogba came close to converting a Shaun Wright-Phillips cross and Kuyt perhaps should have won it with seconds remaining. The Dutchman turned the Liverpool defence but his shot was at a nice height for Cech who beat the ball away.
Penalties
So to penalties. Bolo Zenden stepped up first and scored, but fellow Dutchman Arjen Robben’s spot-kick was saved by Reina who dived to his left.
Alonso then fired in low and Lampard gave Reina no chance with a fierce effort. 2-1 to Liverpool. Gerrard extended the Reds’ advantage but substitute Geremi saw his effort beaten away by Reina. Kuyt made no mistake with his penalty and there was no coming back from 4-1 down for Mourinho’s stunned players.
Liverpool will now meet either Milan or Manchester United in the final in Athens on May 23 after a gruelling clash at Anfield.
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