THROWBACK! “The Greatest Comeback In UEFA Champions League History” Between Liverpool vs AC Milan In 2005- Explained

THROWBACK! “The Greatest Comeback In UEFA Champions League History” Between Liverpool vs AC Milan In 2005- Explained

Steven Gerrard and Rafael Benitez

Liverpool Vs AC Milan is often regarded as the “the greatest match” in UEFA Champions League history. The Reds completed the sensational comeback in the 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul against an all-star Milan team.

Liverpool managed to defy odds and win their 5th European Cup in the unlikeliest of circumstances. The Reds were up against the best team in the world that time in AC Milan. The Italian club had world-class players for every position and were the favourites to win the final without a doubt.

“The Miracle Of Istanbul”-explained

AC Milan Team
AC Milan Team

AC Milan’s starting 11 consisted of famous players such as Pirlo, Kaka, Maldini, and Cafu to name a few. They had a world-class team and were favorites to win the tournament. Carlo Ancelloti was arguably the best coach in Europe at the time too.

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Liverpool on the other hand was considered as the “dark horse” of the tournament. They had a decent team with Gerrard, Alonso, and Dudek the only ones who could be regarded as world-class. They were no match in terms of quality on paper. The Reds’ coach at that time was Rafael Benitez, who had outlasted expectations by making his team reach the final.

AC Milan took a 3-0 lead in the first half with 2 goals from Hernan Crespo and 1 goal by Paolo Maldini. The game seemed to be done and dusted already and everyone thought AC Milan was going to win for sure. They dominated the first half and justified their status as a world-class team.

But what happened in the second half will forever be itched in the memory of all football fans in the world. The Reds came roaring back into the game in the second half, scoring an impossible 3 goals in the space of six minutes. Steven Gerrard appeared on the scoresheet along with Vladimir Smicer and the Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Out of nowhere, Liverpool was in the game and the score was tied. The penalty shootout was also a memorable one as AC Milan missed their first 2 kicks through Pirlo and Serginho. Liverpool on the other hand scored their first 2 kicks.

Liverpool’s only player to miss a penalty was John Arne Riise but it mattered less after Shevchenko missed his kick for the Italian club and Liverpool went on to win against all odds.

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Player’s and manager’s reaction after the game:

Liverpool Team
Liverpool Team

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez couldn’t believe that his side went on to win the game that they were destined to lose. He stated in his post-match interview,” My problem is that I don’t have words to express the things that I feel at this moment.”

Former Liverpool player Alan Hansen said,” It wasn’t just the best comeback in a European Cup Final, it was the best comeback I have ever seen in football and in sport anywhere in the world.“

From the other side, Italian legend Andrea Pirlo, who infamously missed his penalty said in his autobiography ‘I Think Therefore I Play’: “We were like bloodthirsty zombies faced with an unseen problem- the blood was ours and they had drunk every last drop. We couldn’t speak, we couldn’t move. They had mentally destroyed us.”

Pirlo also added,” We had invented a new disease with multiple symptoms: Istanbul syndrome.”

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