Late Riise blunder leaves Liverpool red-faced
By Henry Winter
Sport.Telegraph, 23rd April 2008
Advantage Chelsea. With almost the last touch of the game, deep into
stoppage time, Chelsea gained a lifeline in this Champions League
semi-final with John Arne Riise's terrible own goal cancelling Dirk
Kuyt's first-half strike. Chelsea returned south with a precious away
goal and a belief that they can reach the final in Moscow.
Lacking inspiration for long periods, Chelsea rarely troubled Pepe
Reina, but kept pressing to conjure up only the fourth goal Liverpool
have conceded at Anfield in 15 European semi-finals on a night of
drama on and off the pitch.
Elvis could have got all shook up with Marilyn Monroe in the front
row of the VIP box and been ignored by the 25 photographers, who had
eagle eyes and long lenses only for the assorted participants in
Anfield's boardroom civil war.
The Americans all waved their Liverpool scarves above their heads,
and mumbled through You'll Never Walk Alone, which has rarely been
sung so powerfully and lengthily by the Kop.
Forget Tom Hicks v Rick Parry in a seating-plan nightmare that would
have got the Montagues and Capulets sweating. The real duels were
on the pitch, compelling collisions between Steven Gerrard and Claude
Makelele, Fernando Torres and John Terry, while Didier Drogba and
Jamie Carragher enjoyed a battle royal.
Yet the most significant dogfight of the first half erupted between
Kuyt and Ashley Cole. Liverpool's Dutchman shaped the fortunes of
the opening period, constantly running down the right, keeping the
usually buccaneering Cole rocking back in his starting blocks.
Kuyt was terrific, taking his seventh goal in 11 European games this
season with real conviction. Kuyt did not merely play the executioner
two minutes from the break. He was fully involved in the build-up.
Xabi Alonso was clearly under instructions from Benitez to deliver
long balls early, turning Chelsea's defence.
When Torres was fouled by Michael Ballack, Alonso swept the free-kick
down the line for Kuyt to chase. Pausing momentarily for support to
arrive, Kuyt chipped in a cross which the diving Terry headed clear.
Frank Lampard gained possession, but dithered and Liverpool pounced.
Kuyt put him under pressure and Alonso nicked the ball, back-heeling
it to Javier Mascherano.
The Argentine mis-hit the ball but it dropped invitingly for Kuyt,
who had darted into the box. As Petr Cech advanced, Kuyt did
brilliantly to keep his balance and drive the ball through the
keeper's legs. As Kuyt slid in celebration across the pitch,
Chelsea players looked around in horror.
They had not deserved this, frequently being the more imposing side
in the first half, although Liverpool fashioned the better chances.
Drogba had immediately begun asserting himself on Carragher and
Martin Skrtel, holding the ball up as well as flicking it on for
Joe Cole. Florent Malouda, a surprise inclusion ahead of Salomon
Kalou, was also getting in on the act, cutting in from the left and
unleashing a shot which was deflected for a corner.
Gerrard hit back, testing Cech with a first-time strike that the
Chelsea keeper gathered at the second attempt. Belief spread through
Liverpool. Alonso was looking for the quick-release ball, looking
for the pace of Ryan Babel and Kuyt, whose 12th-minute run almost
brought reward. The Dutchman wasted the moment, allowing Cech to
advance and smother. Torres, unmarked inside, screamed in frustration.
Kuyt was to make amends.
Chelsea seized control briefly, midfielders such as Michael Ballack
creating moments of fear for Liverpool. The German flicked one ball
on to Drogba, whose low cross craved a touch from a man in blue but
Reina pounced. Then Lampard chipped the ball through to Joe Cole,
but the England international could not adjust his body to meet it
properly.
Liverpool need to find a higher gear, and Gerrard gave Babel a quick
lecture on the demands of the occasion. Gerrard was trying to escape
from Makelele in the middle, and seemed to have one eye on a fussy
official, knowing that a caution would rule him out of the second leg.
After Liverpool survived a brief scare when Drogba tumbled in the
box under a fair challenge from Carragher, the hosts conjured up
a wonderful chance with 30 minutes gone. After good work by Babel
and Mascherano down the left, Gerrard struck the ball beautifully
first-time through to Torres.
Here was the situation that the pacy Spaniard loves best, running
through one-on-one with a goalkeeper. Torres' first touch dragged
Gerrard's pass forward, his second nudged it, setting up the
shooting chance. That feared right boot then came down, powering
into the ball, which accelerated goalwards.
The Kop, all standing, all singing, prepared to celebrate Torres'
31st goal of the season, but they had forgotten about Cech.
Chelsea's keeper spread himself well to block Torres' shot.
But Liverpool had found their stride, and were beginning to test
the strength of the ramparts around Cech's goal. Kuyt made the
breakthrough.
Chelsea seemed to lack life, all conviction draining from them.
Ballack struggled. Lampard appeared distracted, understandably so
given his mother's illness. Running on to Drogba's cutback after
64 minutes, Lampard's first touch was surprisingly poor and the
ball ran out into a crowing Kop.
Lampard slowly showed signs of his undoubted class, lifting in a
free-kick to Ballack, whose flicked header was well saved by Reina.
The England international then found Malouda, whose shot was
deflected wide by the sliding Carragher.
Drogba, released by Lampard's pass, tried to smuggle the ball
around Carragher, who stood his ground resolutely. Cech superbly
pushed over Gerrard's volley and Torres also went close to
making it 2-0, but there was a twist of fate at the end, Riise
inadvertently heading home Kalou's cross.
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