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Champions League: The Finals
By Scott Beaty, TheSportsStand.com (5/23/07)

Disappointment. Displeasure. Dissatisfaction. Frustration. All feelings that were passing through my mind as the UEFA Champions League Final of ’07 came to an end. Call me biased, but I believe that Liverpool was cheated this past Wednesday. Congratulations to AC Milan for becoming the Champions of Europe, but I'm not sure they deserve it. You will understand why in a minute…

The match opened up and both teams were firing at all angles, but Liverpool had more chances. Jermaine Pennant gave the Reds an early chance to go one up, but Brazilian international Dida (Milan), pushed the ball away. Pennant’s domination of the right side continued throughout the match, as Milan defender Marek Jankulovski could not keep up with the speedy winger. Liverpool continued to dominate the half; Milan had few chances, if any, with their most dangerous opportunities in memory were some floated crosses that fell right into Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina’s hands. Others were some spurts of brilliance from Kaká. However in the 45^th minute, Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso was called for a foul, just steps outside of the Liverpool penalty box. However, this was no foul; the Brazilian maestro Kaká demonstrated some tremendous acting to draw a foul. Andrea Pirlo stepped up to the dead ball and struck a fair shot that would have been comfortably saved by the Reds’ goalkeeper Reina, however the Piacentini striker, Filippo Inzaghi leaned in with his left arm to guide the ball into the net, giving Reina (already on the ground) no chance. Most Milan fans would likely disagree but I say that Milan cheated twice on one play to score the crucial, game-changing first goal. As stated earlier, Liverpool was clearly the authoritative side, but this event shifted the momentum to the Italian giants.

En el segundo tiempo, the Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard kept himself busy by causing chaos in the aged Milan defense, but failed to score. In one instance, Stevie G was only about seven yards from the goalmouth and attempted to slide the ball past the virtually immobile Dida. Somehow Milan’s ancient keeper managed to fall to the ground and stop the shot. Not five minutes later, “Pippo” Inzaghi of Milan timed his run and ran onto a skillful Kaká through ball. Nobody came near him, as there were appeals for offside, but this goal was scored fair and square. Inzaghi dribbled toward the oncoming Reds keeper, rounded him, and slotted the ball passed him and into the back of the net from a difficult angle. Peter Crouch, who subbed on with about fifteen minutes remaining, took a decent shot that was pushed over the bar by eight-year Milan veteran Dida. The Liverpool comeback started in the 89^th when Dirk Kuyt finished a corner after a flick-on by Danny Agger. 2-1 Milan and the Reds went on the offensive. However the comeback was not to be, as this was in the end the year for the Rossoneri.

Do not count Liverpool out of next year’s Champions League, even though Liverpool’s eyes will be on the English Premier League. Also Rafa Benítez has promised to remold this Merseyside squad. Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, who Kopites dub “God,” and Istanbul hero, keeper Jerzy Dudek, will both definitely leave the club this summer. As likely on the outs are Sami Hyyppiä , Craig Bellamy, Mark González, and Boudewijn Zenden. The targets for this summer are Danny Alves (Sevilla), Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona), Carlos Tévez (West Ham), David Villa (Valencia), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), and Fernando Torres (Atlético Madrid).

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