Down three goals at half-time, it looked like Liverpool’s 21-year wait for a fifth European Cup success would never end.
Amazingly, the end came just over an hour later.
Liverpool scored three second-half goals in seven minutes to overcome the deficit and draw 3-3 with AC Milan before winning 3-2 on penalties.
”We were massive underdogs at the beginning of the competition and I’ll put my hands up say and I didn’t think we were going to go all the way,” said Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, whose team knocked out Italian and Premier League champions Juventus and Chelsea to reach the final.
”But, as you can see tonight, we are never beaten.”
Andriy Shevchenko, whose shootout spot kick clinched Milan’s sixth title two years ago, failed this time, giving the English team the title in a match that started Wednesday and finished in the early minutes of Thursday morning.
In the highest scoring final since Benfica beat Real Madrid 5-3 in 1962, Liverpool became the first team to win the trophy after trailing 3-0.
”They deserved to be three goals up and there were a few heads down at halftime,” Gerrard said.
”The manager made a few changes and put some belief in the players. The first thing we had to do was get back in the game and give some respect for the fans. The first goal gave us a bit of belief.”
It was Liverpool’s fifth title, meaning it will be able to keep the trophy for good. But it may not be enough to get the team into next year’s competition — Liverpool finished in fifth place in the English Premier League, and only the top four gain berths for the next tournament.
”We have won the trophy,” said Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, who last season led Spanish club Valencia to a UEFA Cup triumph.
”It is commonsense that the winner should defend the title.” Now it’s up to UEFA to decide whether to change its rules and let Liverpool defend the title.
Paolo Maldini, who was chasing his fifth winner’s medal, gave Milan the lead in the 50th Champions Cup final after just 52 seconds and Hernan Crespo added two more goals before halftime.
Maldini, who is 36, is the oldest scorer in a Champions League final.
But three goals in seven minutes by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso made it 3-3.
The match then went to a shootout and Liverpool, which also won its last title on penalties in 1984, did it again.
”Three-0 down at halftime I thought I was going to be in tears at the final whistle,” Gerrard said. ”I’m finding it hard to talk.
It’s hard to sum up how good I’m feeling at the moment — I’m just on top of the world.”
Milan’s Serginho and Andrea Pirlo both missed and Liverpool went ahead 2-0 through Dietmar Hamann and Djibril Cisse. Milan leveled when John Arne Riise missed and Jon Dahl Tomasson and Kaka scored for Milan, but Smicer made his shot and Shevchenko’s spot kick was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.
”We played a good match. We had six minutes of craziness,” Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. ”It was something which can’t be explained. It’s not the moment of regrets. We are sorry, embittered, but this is soccer.”
A few minutes before the shootout, the Polish ‘keeper made two stunning saves to foil the Ukrainian at the end of extra time.
”I don’t think anyone has seen a game like that. I cannot believe we’ve just won. People will talking about that game in 20 or 30 years,” Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said.
Gerrard said he dedicated the victory to the Liverpool fans who sang throughout the final at the 75 000-capacity Ataturk Stadium.
Even when Liverpool trailed 4-3 at halftime, they sang ”We’re gonna win 4-3.”
”The Liverpool fans are crazy, unbelievable,” Gerrard said. ”If I can dedicate this to the fans, they deserve it. I am really happy for them.”
The future of the Liverpool captain has been in doubt for a year with speculation that he might leave Anfield because of the team’s failure to match Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United in the league and win titles.
”We are going to talk really soon [about a new contract],” he said. ”I am sure the manager and [chief executive] Rick Parry will want to sit down really soon and talk about it. But how can I leave after a night like this and all the nights I have experienced?
”My form has been hot and cold this season and I am going to put that to bed. You will see a different player next season.” – Sapa-AP