A debate often goes on among footballhollics about crowning the best match that has been ever played in the history of football. Usually World Cup Final of 2022, Barca’s unreal comeback against PSG, the Bernebeu Showdown of Real Madrid against Man City and a few other matches of recent times compete for the crown. But apart from these matches, I’m going to introduce a football match of the first decade of the century, which is appreciated for producing the ultimate level of thrill in football and worth snatching the crown. It’s the Champions League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan in 2005. But why is this match considered one of the greatest? Let’s rush against time and head back to the night of 25 May 2005.
Under the lucid sky, both teams entered the field of Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey. To join the battle for being the European Champion, it seemed that the stars of that very lucid sky came down to blaze the field of that stadium. On Liverpool’s side, Jerry Dudek under the goalpost, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Djimi Traore maintaining the defense line, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia holding the midfield and Harry Kewell, Millan Baros & John Riise were on the frontlines. On the dugout of Liverpool was Rafael Benitez managing the Reds on his first season with the team. Despite having this much quality in the lineup of Liverpool, they were not the favourites for the title. The lineup of AC Milan contained some of the best players of that generation. Under the goalpost was Dida, one of the greatest GKs’ that Brazil saw. Cafu, Stam, Nesta and Maldini were holding the backline. In the midfield was Gutusso, Pirlo and Sedoff and forwards were Kaka, Shevchenko and Crespo. The team was managed by ‘Don’ Carlo Ancelotti.
The match started with kick-off by Liverpool forward Millan Baros. At the very first minute, Liverpool defender Traore fouled Kaka outside the box, which resulted in a free kick. Pirlo’s sweet delivery from that spotkick into the Liverpool box found Maldini, who was completely unmarked. Rushing from outside the box, ‘Il Capitano’ smashed a powerful 12-yard volley and the ball ended up at the back of the net. And so AC Milan went 1 up. A well-built start, exactly what Don Carlo had predicted. After an early breakthrough the game was going with the normal flow where both the teams were trying to make chances. At the 23rd minute, Harry Kewell got injured and was replaced by Vladimir Smicher. In the 38th minute, Liverpool mid Luis Garcia led an attack into AC Milan’s box. To stop that, Nesta got into the way of Garcia with a slide tackle. Because of Nesta’s not very well timed tackle, the ball collided with his elbow and Luis Garcia lost the ball. There was a strong handball appeal from Liverpool’s side. But the referee denied it and indicated to continue playing. Meanwhile, Pirlo led a devastating counterattack from Milan’s side. Pirlo’s pass to Kaka, Kaka’s quick through to Shevchenko, a grounded cross after a little touch towards Crespo and it’s done. Hernan Crespo rattled the ball in the bottom corner of the Liverpool net. Liverpool 0-2 AC Milan. But the miracle was still about to happen.
Second half got underway. Rafa Benitez made some tactical changes in the Liverpool team. In the 54th minute, Liverpool forward Vladimir Smicher crossed the ball into the box from the left side and Steven Gerrard, the Red Captain, charged into the box. Rising above all the defenders, he got the header in and sent the ball crashing into the net. The stadium went wild as thousands of Liverpool fans cheered for their beloved team. Little bit of hope and a little bit of belief and they started again. Just after 2 minutes of the first goal, the Red winger Smicher picked the ball outside the box and unleashed a powerful shot. The ball bounced just in front of Dida and crept in at the right hand post. Liverpool 2-3 AC Milan. The Reds are just one goal away from equalizing. Play restarts. At the 59th minute, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher gave a through ball into the Milan box. Millan Baros, who was marked by Nesta, gave a backheel touch creating an open chance for Gerrard, who was making a run for the box. To block this dangerous opportunity of a goal, AC Milan defender Gattuso pulled Gerrard’s shoulder from behind and Gerrard went down inside the penalty box. Referee directly indicated a penalty in favor of Liverpool. Xabi Alonso was to take the penalty. The hope of all Liverpool fans was on his shoulders. Xabi took a grounded shot to the left bottom corner. Dida jumped to the same side and somehow stopped the ball from going in. But Xabi Alonso caught the rebound and put a thunderstrike into the net. And the ‘Mission Impossible’ job was done. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan.
For the rest of the regular time of the match, none of the teams were able to convert any chances and the play went to extra time. It was all AC Milan’s show. But Dudek’s unreal double save to deny Shevchenko and Kaka’s terrific miss in front of the goal kept the scoreline same. The extra time ended goalless and the match was to be determined by penalties. After recovering from 3-0 to 3-3, Liverpool team showed another masterclass in the penalty shootout. Misses from Sergino, Crespo and Shevchenko from the AC Milan side ensured the victory of the Reds despite Riise’s miss. Liverpool became Champions of Europe for the fifth time in the most miraculous way possible. And that’s why, this event is named ‘The Miracle of Istanbul’. And surely, it gives a tough competition for the crown.