Kamis, 16 April 2009

Chelsea vs. Liverpool, the Greatest Champions League Game Ever!

Liverpool 1 - Chelsea 3. That was the score before the match started. That was the score which showed Chelsea's brilliance at The Kop 6 days earlier when they thrashed Liverpool 3 - 1. At The Kop, Chelsea was pretty dominant and Liverpool was hoping that the match would end quickly. But, at the day of the match at Stamford Bridge, London, things weren't the same. Guus Hiddink's team, were looking to defend and to maintain their lead while Rafael Benitez's men were looking to be offensive and trying to keep their chances of qualifying to the next round high.
The match started. Chelsea, playing a bit defensive, were threatened by early efforts from Liverpool's greatest talents. Yet again, Chelsea were caught napping. A few minutes after that, following a foul by Lampard, Liverpool was given a free kick. Cech and other Chelsea players were hoping for a lob from Fabio Aurelio to the penalty box where the ball would be scrambled away but Fabio Aurelio had another thing inside his mind. Judging that Cech was a little bit to the left, he cleverly kicked the ball and placed an accurate shot into the near post. Cech who had gone to one way, didn't have enough time to go to the other way. One nil for Liverpool. The crowd went into pandemonium as the crowd began to think that Liverpool might just have the chance to pull one back and to get level on the aggregate. 
Liverpool got lucky again few minutes after that. Branislav Ivanovic committed a foul after holding on to Xabi Alonso's shirt, avoiding him from smashing the ball to the net. It was seen by the linesman and Liverpool were awarded with a penalty. Xabi Alonso, the one who was fouled, didn't give any chance for Petr Cech to guess the right direction. The ball went to the right while Cech went to the left. 2 - 0 Liverpool, level on aggregate and only the away goals rules putted Chelsea's nose still a little bit in front.
Second half was promising. Guus Hiddink brought changes. He replaced Salomon Kalou, the Nigerian with Nicolas Anelka, the Frenchman. Anelka then brought a sudden impact on the team. His penetrating run on the left flank of Liverpool's defense, exposing their weaknesses resulted in a cross into the penalty box and a slight touch from Didier Drogba made Reina look clumsy and foolish. Instead of trying to tip away the ball, Reina tried to catch and this decision proved lethal since he instead of catching it, he putted it into his own net. 2 -1 for Liverpool but no longer level on aggregate. The lead was now swinging back to Chelsea's favor and Liverpool were forced to be more offensive.
2 -1 didn't stay long. A free kick from Alex went over the wall of Liverpool's player, heading right into the centre of the goal and it went it. Reina, who once were flying and trying to tip away the ball didn't actually manage to do it. Liverpool's players were in a deep shock while Chelsea's players were dancing in jubilance. 2 -2 now and everything can happen. Chelsea has surely got the passport to the last four.
Lampard then provided the third blow. His shot from 3 yards out, was blocked by Reina but wasn't completely blocked. It slipped through Reina's arms and now, it was Blue at Stamford Bridge which turned into a pandemonium. 3 -2 for Chelsea. From 2 - 0 down, now 3 -2 up. But, Liverpool weren't out. Lucas Leiva, made a shot into the net but it was deflected by the chest of Essien which sent the ball into the net, leaving Cech in a deep state of disbelief.
Then, like it was not enough yet, Kuyt smashed a header into the net for the fourth time. 4 -3 now and the momentum had shifted back into Liverpool's favor. They felt that they could actually finish this job here! But, at the 89th minute it was a no-go. Lampard, smashing a shot from the edge of the penalty box, went right into the post of Reina's goal, bounced into the other post and surely went in. 4 -4 now and only one minute left in normal time. Liverpool were out surely and it proved to be so, since there were no more goals at the end of the match. 4-4 at Stamford Bridge, 7 -5 on aggregate. Chelsea cruised to the next round with poise. 

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