Forza Milan, They Never Walked Alone!

0445 hrs today, GMT +8... AC Milan are crowned this year's Champions League winners after defeating Liverpool in Athens Olympic stadium 2-1, in what was billed as a sequel to the 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul, which ended in a scintillating 3-3 draw, while Liverpool triumphed on penalties. That game was best remembered for the tenacity of the Liverpool players, inspired by their captain, Steven Gerrard, who fought back from a 3 goal deficit after half time to draw with Milan 3-3. In extra time, Dudek saved from Sheva 2 times in point blank range, and went on to be the hero as he saved 2 Milan penalties.

However luck did not shine on the Merseysiders today. Milan took the lead right at the death before half time through a Fillipe Inzagi goal, before finishing the job in the 82nd min. Dirk Kuyt got a consolation goal for Liverpool but it was not enough to see off 7-time winners AC Milan. AC Milan, which won the coin toss on both occasions, chose to wear their white jersey and chose their side of the pitch to play on. Liverpool wore red, and started first. AC opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation of Inzagi, supported by playmaker Kaka, with Gattuso and Ambrosini, flanked by Seedorf and Pirlo and supported Nesta and Maldini flanked by Jankolovski and Oddo. Liverpool played a defensive 4-5-1 formation of Kuyt as lone striker supported by Gerrard, flanked by Zenden and Pennant, supported by Mascherano and Alonso supported by Carragher and Agger with Riise and Finnan...

Liverpool, for all intent and purposes were pressuring the Italians from the start. However, Milan's back 4 dealt superbly with the Liverpool threat despite some errors and stray passing. Liverpool could not take advantage of their errors till the 10th min, when Pennant took advantage of bad defending to send a shot from a narrow angle straight to Dida's grasp. Liverpool pressured, but Milan soaked it up like a sponge, intent to just sit back with a rare counter attack here and there... Kaka shot tamely in the 16th to Reina's arms. That was the 1st shot AC had on target... Kaka and Alonso both showed their tricks on the pitch, although Kaka's trick was totally pure class... Too bad both efforts didn't manage to marginalise... Stevie G shot over, partly due to the pressure of Gattuso marking him. Oddo made many runs into the Liverpool box and crossed but all failed to find anyone but Reina. By now, most of the shots were off target and the crosses were poor. Riise drills from midfield but it flies over the bar. Poor passing and crossing were evident on both sides. Kaka has been silenced rather well by Mascherano whilst Gerrard was shackled by Gattuso.

After 40 mins of rather uninspiring play, Gattuso got booked for lunging at Alonso. But just as it was going to be 0-0 at half time, Milan wins a free kick just outside the 'Pool penalty box for a foul on Kaka. Pirlo takes the direct free kick and Reina had the shot covered... Until it hit Inzagi's chest and deflected into goal. Reina and 'Pool were shocked... Celebrations galore for Milan players as they hustled to the dressing room. 2 shots on target each for both sides so far. Half time score 1-0 to AC.

After the break, the players tire and the play opened up a bit. Liverpool as usual pressured the Italians as they probed a weakness to the Italian defense. Either the unflappable Maldini or Nesta or Gattuso cleared the danger or Liverpool left their scoring boots at home, the latter more frequent than the former. Case in point, Gerrard was clean through with only Dida to beat in 61st... Quoting the commentator "9 times out of 10 you'd expect Gerrard to score from that kind of situation, but he sent his tame effort into Dida's hands." 3 bookings in 6 mins, starting from Jankulovski, then Mascherano, and Carragher. Liverpool subbed Zenden off for Kewell at 58th. Really poor performance from Zenden. His crosses all missed, his passes were stray and he failed to take his chances on goal... At this point, AC Milan have seemed to close shop at the back and just hung on while Liverpool bombard the goal with their artillery from Gerrard and co. Luckily most shots were off target. For most of the second half it was Milan who defended in numbers while Liverpool piled the pressure.

Surely enough, Benitez subbed Mascherano for Crouch in the 77th to bolster Liverpool's attacking option. That turned the tide of the game. A bad judgement for Benitez's part. The effect was spontaneously felt on the pitch. As though unshackled and free, Kaka began to run riot in the midfield. As Crouch loitered in the Milan half, Milan subbed Jankulovski for Kaladze to mark him. In the 79th, Inzagi saw the ball at his feet after a cross. He seemed so stunned like as though he got a Porche for his birthday that the ball was gone the next instant. Let off...

But as though reading the critics' mind, he immediately made up for his earlier mistake in the 82nd by slipping through the Liverpool defense to latch on to a beautiful through ball by the rampaging Kaka and he rounded Reina and slotting the ball into the net. 2-0 Milan... Really a sterling example of placement over power. With 10 more mins to go, the Milan fans are going crazy while the 'Pool fans are on the verge of breaking down. They may believe in miracles but time is not on their side... And Crouch smashes a shot for Dida to tip it over. Routine stuff...

As time ticks out into oblivion, Milan changes Inzagi for Gilardino while 'Pool changes Arbeloa for Finnan... Agger crashes a shot which Dida tips away. The corner from Pennant... Bounced off a Milan player into the path of... Dirk Kuyt!!! And he heads the ball in from 2m... Dida had no chance... Suddenly 'Pool fans started going crazy with shouts of "1 more goal" to cheer their own team, outnumbering their Milan counterparts literally and in terms of volume.

As the referee signals 3 more mins, Liverpool players passed the ball and moved with a real sense of urgency never seen before until now. But Milan neutralised the tactic by wasting time to take off Seedorf for Flavalli... As Gerrard lets fly from some way out in a last ditch attempt on goal, the ball spins upwards into the crowd and the whistle blows!!!

Milan are the Champions!!! They were very lucky to score that 1st goal and were very fortunate that Liverpool did not take their chances. If anyone was to blame, it was Liverpool was not taking their chances.