Reds hang on to win
27 Sep 2006 - 22:13:02
Liverpool held on to beat Galatasaray 3-2 to secure their first win in Group C of this season's Champions League after it had earlier looked as though they would run up a cricket score against their Turkish opponents.
Rafa Benitez's side completely dominated the first quarter of the game and led by two goals but, after Peter Crouch added a third early in the second period, they relaxed and almost allowed Galatasaray to snatch a share of the spoils.
The visitors started cautiously and were almost made to pay for their attitude after only five minutes when Crouch set up Luis Garcia whose fierce shot was parried by keeper Faryd Mondragon.
The Reds continued to dominate though and broke the deadlock four minutes later when Fabio Aurelio's brilliant cross fell to Crouch who couldn't miss, volleying home with aplomb from five yards out.
It was 2-0 in the 14th minute when the Turkish side's defence was cut to shreds as Jermaine Pennant raced to the byline and crossed for Luis Garcia to head into an unguarded net.
Galatasaray were looking a shadow of the side that won last term's Turkish League title but they slowly came out of their shell as they tried to get a foothold in the match and, in the 25th minute, Cihan Haspolatli's angled shot had to be touched away by Jose Reina.
Back came Liverpool and four minutes later the impressive Aurelio whipped in another good cross but Garcia was unable to get a touch to the ball as it skidded along the six-yard area.
Just before the interval Steven Gerrard tried his luck from 30 yards out but his swerving effort was saved, in an unorthodox manner, by Mondragon.
The outstanding Sabri Sarioglu then fired wide before Liverpool eased into a three-goal lead in the 52nd minute with a spectacular scissor-kick by Crouch from Steve Finnan's pinpoint cross.
That should have been that but the visitors suddenly stepped up their game and almost pulled a goal back four minutes later when Sabri's free-kick came back off the post and Reina blocked the follow-up effort.
Play quickly switched to the other end and Dirk Kuyt was unfortunate to see his shot come back off the post with Mondragon beaten.
Almost immediately Galatasaray pulled a goal back when a good run and cross by Arda Turan ended with substitute Umit Karan leaping to head past Reina.
The Anfield faithful were stunned in the 65th minute when Umit scored again - with another brave header - and an unlikely comeback was suddenly on the cards.
Galatasaray created chances to equalise as well, an unmarked Sasa Ilic dragging an 82nd-minute shot wide before Reina saved Hakan Sukur's downward header.
The veteran Turkish striker should have done better with the last attack of the match but failed to control the ball inside the penalty area when unmarked.