Champion's League: Still Can't Believe It...

What was most memorable about last nights game was not just that we won (but of cours,e that is THE most memorable part), but because I nearly missed the game due to the fact that my hotel in Korea does not have ESPN.

So it was that me and a fellow Liverpool supporter/reporter from Singapore spent the hour BEFORE the match wandering around Seoul trying to look for a bloody pub that showed the match. We'd nearly given up on the search when we chanced upon a dingy looking bar that happened to have the match on at the time. Who cared if the beer cost 10000 won each?

After the match, it was worth it all.

What a game it was. This is the most nerve-wracking match I'd even watched, and my hands could not stop shaking throughout the penalty shootout.

First half was abysmal. I still say Benitez made a tactical mistake by NOT playing Hamann at the start. Kewell was a mistake, and did nothign at all. In fact, Smicer did more in the first few minutes of comign on than Kewell did in the 20 minutes he was on the pitch. And that's not saying much.

First goal was Luis Garcia and Traore's fault. Garcia for not marking Maldini, and Traore for giving away the free kick. Second goal and third goals? AC Milan totally outclassed us. Simple as that.

Anyway, It was a brilliant fightback. With Hamann protecting the defence, Kaka couldn't feed the strikers, and Gerrard could attack. When the first goal went in, I was still sceptical. When Smicer scored, I was hopeful. And when Xabi missed the penalty, my heart stopped, until I saw him lash the rebound into the goal.

From then on, I couldn't stop shaking, because I was so nervous. And when Dudek made that double save from Shevcehnko, my heart nearly stopped. Ditto the penalty shootout. My hands couldn't stop shaking.

But winning it... the feeling was unbelievable.

Here's my personal opinion about the heros:

Dudek: Two penalties well-saved, a FANTASTIC double save from Shevchenko at point lank range, and another GREAT save just before Gerrard scored. Redeemed himself, he has.

Carragher: One scenario says it all. He got the cramps after tackling Shevchenko, was taken off for treatment, came on again, and immdietely launched into another tackle on Shevchenko. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Hyypia: Was all over the place in first half, but came back strong in the second. Had our only shot on target in the whole first half...

Finnan: Victim of second half change of tactics, but was ineffective in first half anyway. Maldini kept him out superbly.

Traore: Our weakest link for 70% of the match, losing his concentration so many times that I had bad feelings whenever he got the ball. But redeemed himself with that goalline clearance.

Kewell: Bloody Useless. Did nothing for 20 minutes, and it was good riddance that he got injured.

Smicer: At least did slightly more than Kewell. Scoring that second goal and converting his penalty really capped his Liverpool career supremely well.

Riise: Our most dangerous attacking player GREAT cross for Gerrard's goal. Too bad about the saved penalty.

Luis Garcia: Rather quiet, actually. Tended to be too fancy, losing the ball a lot. But ran and ran, and played his part.

Xabi Alonso: Great passing as usual, but could not handle Kaka in first half without Hamann. Did REALLY well to get to the rebound after he missed the penalty.

Gerrard: Inspirational, relentless, almost flawless second half. Man of the Match for me. And I take back everythign I said about him. STAY, Stevie G, STAY.

Hamann: We REALLY should have played him in the first half. Without Hamann to protect the back four, Kaka ran riot. WITH Hamann, the defence looked solid. Gets my vote for player with the most telling influence on the game.

Baros: Another bloody useless player. Fell down all the time, lost the ball too many times, fouled people a lot, and had a tendency to get in the way when you didn't want him there (at one point Alonso had a clear shot on goal, but bloody Baros got in the way), and to be NOT where you wanted him to be.

Cisse: Played too deep for a striker, but Benitez was probably already thinking about the penalties by the time he came on... and at least he didn't give the ball away as often as Baros did...

And last but no least:

BENITEZ: Screwed up supremely in the first half by playing Kewell from the start, but changed tactics masterfully, putting on Hamann in the second. And that must have been SOME team talk he gave at half-time...

Best part is, UEFA have to make a new trophy because we've won it FIVE BLOODY TIMES! Woohoo!

Dammit, I still can't believe we won. And I can't believe how close I came to missing this match.

Now I can't wait to get back home and gloat over some Manchester United fans...