UEFA Champions League Final - AC Milan 2 Liverpool 1
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The buildup to this game was big. Seemingly bigger than usual, not least because of Liverpool's stunning comeback in the Final of the same competition at Istanbul in 2005 (for those of you who don't follow football; AC Milan took a 3-0 halftime lead before spectacularly collapsing in six mad minutes to allow Liverpool to level early in the 2nd half. Match went to extra time before Liverpool won on penalties). Needless the say a large amount of ink and paper was dedicated to stories about AC Milan seeking revenge for what was really quite a humiliating cave-in, and many Milan players understandably regarding that night in Istanbul as a career low and were seeking to make things right.
There's no need for a match report here, they can be found all over the internet on the various football websites and online newspapers, so just a few brief thoughts on the Liverpool team and players who for good or bad, merit a mention. Needless to say, the result sucked from my point of view, but then you win some you lose some. Theres always next season to look forward to. Will follow up with a season review in the next few days.
Defence - Can't be blamed for the 1st goal. How lucky was the deflection off Inzaghi to wrongfoot Reina after he had the freekick covered? Although they looked ponderously square when Kaka passed to Inzaghi (again!) for the 2nd goal. Together with Maschereno, kept the Milan midfield quartet quiet for the most part)
Maschereno - Kept Kaka in his pocket all night until he was subbed when Liverpool was trailing. Which is no mean feat considering Kaka's form over this season, particularly in the Champions League.
Zenden - Awful, awful, awful. He looks, and Benitez has said as much, to be a fantastic all-round nice guy. But in the 3 matches I've seen him play (Chelsea home and away, plus last night) he looked totally out of his depth at this level
Pennant - Tried hard, played very well for the most part. However his first major final obviously brought out the butterflies in his stomach. His passes and crosses, usually his forte, were way off tonight
Kuyt - Ran his socks off, and tries his utmost (and more) for the team (which has endeared him to fans including me). But still feel hes not the top drawer striker Liverpool needs and showed as much tonight (like the the 2006 World Cup). The fact that his 89th minute consolation goal was his first in the Champions League just about says it all. Worth keeping another season though, he might come good (like Drogba).
Rafael Benitez - The manager got the tactics right. Press Milan upfield, through the flanks. And watch Kaka like a hawk in midfield. But he was let down by the limitations of his personnel, particularly the wingers. And when Milan got the huge stroke of luck at the end of the first half, it all came unstuck. Although I might have chosen Crouch to start over Kuyt upfront, and risk Kewell starting to grab a goal (or goals) before subbing him with Zenden if Kewell gets tired or crocked (again!)
On a final note, the ticket allocation for the Final was a disgrace. In a 63,000-seater stadium, each team got 17,000 tickets, 5,000 put on internet ballot and the rest to the "Uefa family" (otherwise known as rich corporate sponsors who for the most part couldn't give a rat's arse about football). Small wonder stories about Milan fans threatening the club for tickets, Liverpool fans fighting for tickets in the streets, people arrested for forgeries and scalpers demanding 4000 Euros for a 200-Euro ticket were rife. UEFA needs to get its head sorted when it comes to ticket distribution at these events. I reckon the real miracle in Athens was not the football, but the fact no-one got killed looking for tickets.
- DSMLabels: Champions League Final, Liverpool football club
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ThE DonGSteRs at |10:05 PM|
