Source: Liverpool_Echo
Liverpool FC 12 days of Christmas - Six minutes in Istanbul
As the festive season approaches, we have put together a special online 12 days of Christmas with a Liverpool FC twist. A new installment will be online at www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/lfc and www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/lfc each day up to the 25th[LNB]lt had been a fairytale run, but all good things must come to an end.[LNB]At half-time in the final Champions League group game against Olympiakos, the Reds were a goal down and needed three to qualify. Up stepped Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Neil Mellor and Steven Gerrard to the rescue. Bayer Leverkusen were dealt with comfortably, 3-1 wins home and away with Luis Garcia the star of the show.[LNB]An epic and emotional quater-final against Juventus was decided by a great start in the home leg, with Garcia and Sami Hyypia on the scoresheet, and resolute defence in the away tie with Xabi Alonso bossing the midfield. Then in the semi, after a 0-0 at Stamford Bridge, the Kop roared Liverpool on to the final as Luis Garcia's goal saw off Chelsea. Football heaven.[LNB]But 3-0 up at the break in Istanbul, AC Milan looked home and dry. "Game well and truly over" said Andy Gray commentating on the game. Kaka was rampant in the Milan midfield and Crespo added a brace to an early Maldini strike to give the Italian side a seemingly unassailable lead. Yet inside the dressing room something was brewing. Rafael Benitez wasn't listening and said to his players: "Give yourself the chance to be heroes."[LNB]Video: Those glorious six minutes in Istanbul[LNB] In the six minutes of football that ensued, Liverpool rewrote history. AC Milan had one hand on the trophy, but Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso tore if off. The captain netted first, heading in a Riise cross. Surely just a consolation for the Reds? Commentator Clyde Tyldesley wasn't so sure: "Hold on. This could be some ride. You never know - you never know with Liverpool!"[LNB]Vladimir Smicer agreed, firing past Dida in the Milan goal from outside the area just 120 seconds later. Tyldesley again: "It's in, it's in! Vladimir Smicer! Two goals in two minutes for Liverpool. Miracles are possible." He continued: "Liverpool were a beaten team at the interval and now look. Now look."[LNB]Four minutes down the line, with wave after wave of Red pressure, Liverpool fans really had something to look at: Carragher to Baros, Baros laying it off to Gerrard bursting into the area, Gattuso bringing Gerrard down and Alonso stepping up to take the penalty. Tragedy turned to glory in fractions of a second as Dida saved low to his right, but the Spaniard was first to the rebound, smashing the ball into the roof of the net. Cue Tyldesley: "And mission impossible is accomplished!"[LNB]The aftermath >>>>>>
