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| Steven Gerrard lifting the title |
This week's Sunday Special is little different. Normally we take a look back at some of the great movies of the Golden Era of Indian Cinema or talk about about something related to science and history. This week though we are talking about Football and perhaps the most memorable game(depends upon who you supported) of the UCL, "The Miracle of Istanbul" or "The Istanbul Miracle".
If you are a football fan then join us in this trip down memory lane. If you are not, don't worry we got u covered and you don't need to be a crazy fan to understand this thing. The "Istanbul Miracle" is popularly referred to the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. With the next season's final to take place in Istanbul (originally scheduled this year but was changed to next year due to COVID-19) it's fair to take a look back at this.
The MATCHUP-
If there was some team whom you didn't wanted to face in the 90s and the early 00s was AC Milan. The I Rossoneri were at their peak at that moment playing great attacking football. They came into the season's Competition as Italian Champions and were looking to win the UCL for a 2nd time in 3 years after they Defeated Juventus in the all Italian Final at Old Trafford in 2003.
Liverpool on the other hand were not they strongest at that point and entered the competition after winning the qualification round due to finishing 4th in the Premier League. This was their first final appearance since 1985.
The Route to the FINAL-
Liverpool eased passed the Round of 16 winning both legs 3-1 against Bayer Leverkusen. They faced of against Juventus in the Quarter Final. A stunning 2-1 win at Anfield followed by a 0-0 draw in Turin ensured progression for Liverpool. An after an all English Controversial Semi Final with Chelsea which they won 1-0 by a "Ghost Goal" from Luis Garcia led Liverpool to its first ever final since 1985.
Milan had a tougher route compared to Liverpool. They took on Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in the Round of 16. Hernan Crespo scored both the goals in the tie as Milan won 1-0 home and away to go through.
That Derby Della Madonnina-
Following the progression to the Quarter Finals, Milan faced city Rivals Inter. As both share the same home, both games took at San Siro. AC Milan were the "home team" for the first leg. Goals from Jaap Stam and Andriy Shevchenko gave Milan a 2-0 first leg lead.
Milan scored first into the second leg through Shevchenko in the 30th minute to take a 3-0 lead on aggregate. Inter fans began furious and started throwing fireworks onto the pitch. The game was later abandoned in the 72nd minute after a firework hitted Milan Goalkeeper Dida and Milan were handed a 3-0 win by UEFA and a 5-0 win on aggregate and a ban on Inter and it's supporters.
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| That Chaos gave us a iconic picture of Materazzi and Rui Costa looking together at the fireworks |
Milan then won 2-0 in the first leg against PSV Eindhoven. They lost the second leg 3-1 but were through on away goals.
THE LINEUPS OF THE GAME-
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| AC Milan Starting 11 |
GK- Dida🇧🇷
RB- Cafu🇧🇷
CB-Stam🇳🇱
CB-Nesta🇮🇹
LB-Maldini(C)🇮🇹
DM-Pirlo🇮🇹
CM-Gattuso🇮🇹
LM-Seedorf🇳🇱
AM-Kaka🇧🇷
CF-Shevchenko🇺🇦
CF-Crespo🇦🇷
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| The Liverpool Starting 11 |
Liverpool-
GK-Dudek🇵🇱
RB-Finnan🇮🇪
CB-Carragher🏴
CB-Hyypiä🇫🇮
LB-Traoré🇲🇱
DM-Alonso🇪🇸
RM-Garcia🇪🇸
CM-Gerrard(C)🏴
LM-Riise🇳🇴
SS-Kewell🇦🇺
CF-Baros🇨🇿
The MATCH-
First Half-
Liverpool conceded a free kick within the opening seconds. Andrea Pirlo then whipped in a free kick which was volley in the the goal by the Milan Skipper Paolo Maldini to give Milan the lead inside 50 seconds of the game.
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| Maldini giving Milan the lead |
Milan almost doubled the lead in the 13th minute after Crespo tried to head the ball in only for Luis Garcia to clear it off the line. Liverpool were forced into a change as Harry Jewell picked up a groin injury. He was substituted by Vladimir Smicer.
Soon Shevchenko was played through by Kaka and he buried his effort past Dudek but was judged for offside. Liverpool kept on attacking but were unable to break the Milan defence.
Shevchenko played out a stunning pass after he was played through on counter by Kaka and laid out a ball at the back of the far post to Hernan Crespo to make it 2-0.
Minutes later just before the half time, Crespo was played through by Kaka and he chipped in the ball over Dudek to make it 3-0 for Milan. It looked like a demolition was set for the English side.
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| Crespo chipping the ball over Dudek |
The Second Half-
At half time as one set of fans were celebrating their team's performance, the other were proudly and courageously singing "You Will Never Walk Alone". This was perhaps the turning point of the game.
Early in the second half, Milan kept on firing as Shevchenko was denied by Dudek from a well strucked free kick. Then a minute later the game was back on track.
John Arnee Riise crossed in the ball from the left flank and Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard headed it past Dida to make it 3-1. Commentator Clive Tyldesley words still rings in the ears of fans "In Towards Gerrard! Hello Hello Here We Go Steven Gerrard puts a brain of doubt in Milan Minds and give hope to all the many thousands of Liverpool Fans".
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| Flying Gerrard |
Literally 2 minutes later Smicer hitted a shot from 25 yards out which beated Milan Keeper Dida to make it 3-2 in the 56th minute. 4 minutes later Gattuso brought down Gerrard in the box and Liverpool were awarded a penalty. Xabi Alonso's penalty was saved by Dida but the follow up falled straight to him and he smashed in the top corner to extraordinarily make it 3-3 in the 60th minute. Mission Impossible became a reality as within the space of 6 minutes Liverpool went from 3-0 down to level it up at 3-3.
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| Xabi Alonso smashing in the penalty |
Both sides then had plenty of chances to take the lead. In the 70th minute Shevchenko's effort was cleared off the line by Traoré. Milan had a late chance to sneak it when Kaka tried to direct Jaap Stam's header but failed to do so and the game went into extra time.
EXTRA TIME-
After few exchanges in the extra time, the best chance came for Milan in the second half of extra time in the 117th minute. Shevchenko's shot was blocked by Dudek and the rebound came back to him and again Dudek saved it much for Shevchenko and Milan's displeasure. The match went into penalties.
Milan's two penalties were saved by Dudek. Substitute Serginho blasted over the first Penalty after a long run up. Liverpool scored their first Penalty. Andrea Pirlo then missed as well putting Milan at a severe disadvantage. Riise failed to score a Penalty for Liverpool as well, but the match point came to one and only Andriy Shevchenko. He had to score to keep Milan in contention. He had scored the decisive penalty against Juventus 2 years ago. He fired his penalty straight down the middle, Dudek went to right but saved the penalty from his left hand to win the Penalty Shootout for Liverpool by a score of 3-2 and Complete the Miracle.
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| A bad day at the office for Shevchenko |
AFTERMATH-
The Duo meet again two years later in the 2007 Champions League Final. This time Milan would get their revenge as they won 2-1 on the night and collected their 7th Champions League Crown. Till date this is the last UCL Title for AC Milan.
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| Milan got their revenge two years later |
Liverpool on the other hand went through a different stages. They were still fighting to end the drought of a League Title. They came close in 2014 but lost the title in the last two games against Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Then in mid 2015 Jurgen Klopp was appointed the manager.
In that season he guided Liverpool to the Europa League final but ended up on the losing side with Sevilla winning 3-1. To two 4 finishes in the next two seasons and a Appearance in the 2017-18 Champions League Final followed for Liverpool. They lost the 2018 Final by 3-1 against Real Madrid thanks to some great goals by Gareth Bale and some "awful" keeping from Loris Karius.
Klopp would finally end Liverpool's trophy drought after they Defeated Tottenham Hotspurs 2-0 in the 2019 Champions League Final and end a 14 year wait for Champions League glory. They missed out the League Title by a single point finishing with 97 points with Manchester City retaining the title with 98 points.
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| Liverpool are the 3rd most successful club in UCL after Milan(7) and Real Madrid (13) with 6 titles to their name |
The next season the long wait for a league title was over for Liverpool. In a Covid-19 pandemic hit season, Liverpool finished with 99 points,18 ahead of Second place Manchester City.
As for Milan, they last won the league in 2010-11 season ending the 5 year reign of Inter Milan. This Scedutto is still the last won by someone else rather than Juventus. This season though Milan sit on top of the table undefeated so far with the magician Zlatan Ibrahimovic driving them forward. Can they end their drought of a league title.
Moral- Do not quit,keep on trying and giving your best.
Written by Vinay Dave
Infringement of this article should not be made!
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