ISTANBUL, 26 May 2005 — Liverpool made history by coming from 3-0 to draw 3-3 with AC Milan and win an astonishing Champions League fi nal 3-2 on penalties yesterday. The Premier League club scored three goals in seven minutes after the interval to take the match into extra time and when Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko’s spot-kick in the shootout was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek their extraordinary comeback was complete.
Paolo Maldini put the Italians ahead after just 53 seconds with a downward volley from an Pirlo free kick, which bounced through a crowded area and beat Dudek’s outstretched arm. The defender’s goal, his first of the season, was the fastest in a European Cup final since Enrique Mateos for Real Madrid against Stade de Reims in 1959. At 36, the Milan captain also became the oldest player to score in a fi nal.
Benitez was forced into a change in the 23rd minute when Australian Harry Kewell, a surprise starter, picked up a knock and had to be replaced by Czech midfielder Vladimir Smicer.
Milan remained on top, though, and European Footballer of the Year Shevchenko had an effort ruled out for offside in the 29th minute. Six minutes before the break Brazilian Kaka fed Shevchenko on the right and the Ukrainian picked out Crespo at the back post with a low cross which the Argentine tapped home. A minute before the interval Kaka produced a magical turn to lose Steven Gerrard in midfi eld and he delivered a defense splitting pass which Crespo confi dently chipped past the advancing Dudek to put the Italians 3-0 up.
Within the space of 15 minutes of the second half, however, Liverpool were level with three quick-fire goals that left the Italians simply stunned. First Gerrard rose well to head a John Arne Riise cross past the stationary Dida and two minutes later German Dietmar Hamann, a halftime substitute, set up Smicer, who beat Dida with a low drive from 20 metres. With Milan’s defense reeling, Gerrard burst into the Milan area and was bundled over by Gennaro Gattuso for a penalty. Dida dived to parry out Xabi Alonso’s spot-kick but the Spaniard hammered the loose ball into the roof of the net to complete a remarkable comeback .
Shevchenko almost won it for Milan two minutes from the end of extra time when his powerful header was brilliantly saved by Dudek who threw up a hand to deny the striker’s follow-up.
