Juventus 0, Liverpool 0 (D,Post) Apr 14 2005
Liverpool win 2-1 on aggregate
By Any Hunter at Stadio Delle Alpi

FROM Gazza's tears to the yellow card that ruled Roy Keane out of the 1999 European Cup final, the Stadio Delle Alpi has long been home to heroic disappointment abroad. Liverpool, against all the odds, are now the notable exception.

Last night they defied a crippling injury list, the so-called might of Juventus and their own patchy Premiership form to conjure up one of the most remarkable results in even Liverpool's rich European history and take their place in the first all-English semi-final with Chelsea, their furthest march for 20 years.

The celebrations were felt across the Alps and nowhere as wild as in front of Steven Gerrard's television set. Amid the despair of his cruel Carling Cup final display the Liverpool captain made one wish: to face Jose Mourinho again in the Champions League.

He will relish that confrontation like never before, and no doubt it will be billed as the match to decide who wins his signature, but for now Gerrard will simply savour the magnificence of his team-mates in his absence.

Such was the measure of this achievement that even the usually reserved pitchside manners of Rafael Benitez were forgotten as he embraced every one of his backroom staff and substitutes on the bench before saluting his shattered heroes out on the pitch.

As in the previous round against Bayer Leverkusen, the ramifications of a goalkeeping error at Anfield were made redundant as Liverpool held firm against Juventus, grinding them into a subdued admission that their Champions League hopes were over long before the final whistle.

There was no repeat of the stirring attack that delivered the ultimately crucial two-goal cushion in the first leg from Liverpool. There was never going to be.

This was a night for Liverpool's defenders to take the accolades and their spirit to rise to the fore. Jamie Carragher, heralded as the best centre-half in England by his manager, led from the back, Xabi Alonso was outstanding in his first 90-minute display since breaking his ankle while Djibril Cisse completed his own personal triumph by playing a part in a famous victory.



"People only remember the winners," said Benitez beforehand, but no-one associated with Liverpool will forget what he has achieved after only nine months at the helm.

The prize at stake and the poignancy of the occasion brought the highest European crowd of the season to the Stadio Delle Alpi. After less than 7,000 fans watched the group games against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax, the Italians were out in force to give Liverpool a hostile reception.

From the eloquent "From the heart - no more deaths" and "39 angels looking down with pride on we the black and white people" that was draped across the face of the west stand to the more blunt banner of "You are uglier than Camilla", the home fans were determined to match the colour and intensity of Anfield last week.

But, as the sickening "15-4-89 Sheffield - God exists" illustrated, there were darker reasons behind the attendance of many and, encouraged by the curious absence of police from the Liverpool section, they started an exchange of missiles with the away support 10 minutes before kick-off.

Order was restored the second the teams stepped into the arena, while the order of the second half at Anfield reasserted itself once the game began.

Juventus dominated in terms of possession, patiently working the ball out wide as Liverpool's two banks of four sat comfortably tight in front of the recalled Jerzy Dudek.

Yet once again they struggled to create clear-cut chances, bar a glaring miss by Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 11th minute, and despite Liverpool's over-riding defensive work the visitors still had enough openings to punish Juventus on the counter.

Antonio Nunez should have prospered from the first real opportunity of the night when Liverpool broke through Milan Baros in the ninth minute. But the Czech Republic striker failed to release his pass in time for the Spaniard's overlap and Fabio Cannavaro smothered the danger.

That was a moment of promise for Liverpool. The next sight on goal was a bona fide gift that should have brought Juventus the early breakthrough they craved. Gianluca Zambrotta broke clear of Steve Finnan on the left, the home side's most threatening outlet all game, and delivered a superb cross in behind the Liverpool defence that fell perfectly for Ibrahimovic.

The Swedish international had been the Bianconeri's brightest star early on, but side-footed high over Dudek's goal from only six yards when it seemed easier to score.

It was a crucial miss, increasing the tension on Juve and the anxiety among the crowd. Ideal for Liverpool, who were never troubled again until the 76th minute.

Carragher was imperious as Benitez's side answered every question asked of them, throwing himself in front of Emerson's shot, Ibrahimovic's turn and magnetically getting his head on the end of almost every cross. He was helped in no small measure by his colleagues, with Djimi Traore intercepting several raids, Igor Biscan a tireless worker in midfield and Baros a willing outlet.

Luis Garcia was just denied by Gianluigi Buffon as he almost continued his outstanding Champions League run of goals when released by Finnan's fine chip as Juventus's lauded rearguard appeared vulnerable in comparison to Liverpool's.

For all the disruption caused by their constant injury problems, it was Liverpool who displayed the virtues more readily associated with Italian football.

And they nearly confirmed their semi-final place as early as the 50th minute when Baros was inches away from converting the pass of the game.

The provider would probably not have been on the pitch but for the absence of Gerrard, yet Alonso justified his inclusion with an exquisite 30-yard ball that released the striker goal-side of Lilian Thuram. Baros then held off Paolo Montero and beat Buffon with a low shot that appeared destined for the far corner, only for his hard work to count for nothing as the ball rolled agonisingly wide.

Buoyed by the chance, Liverpool produced their most sustained spell of pressure thereafter and found the route to goal much easier than their opponents, although Dudek had to be alert when Emerson headed Mauro Camoranesi's free-kick goalwards.

The fact the first save of the game arrived in the 65th minute was testament to Liverpool's assured resilience.

No matter where the Juventus threat came from a red shirt would invariably block its path and, just to add to the feeling Liverpool could defy the odds, Cisse stepped off the bench 15 minutes from time to complete his astonishing recovery from a double fracture of the leg.

Moments later they survived their second major scare of the night when Cannavaro, just as he had done in the first leg, climbed highest at the back post but headed Alessandro Del Piero's free-kick against the post. If that was a fortunate reprieve, Liverpool had earned it.

From the misery of Manchester City to the joy of Juventus within five days.

Benitez is probably beyond understanding the peaks and troughs of his rollercoaster side. Once again, however, they were flawless in Europe and can genuinely begin to dream of a place in the Istanbul final next month.

Chelsea may have beaten them three times already this season but as the Stamford Bridge side showed against Arsenal last term, the sequence cannot stretch to five. Surely?

With Juventus deservedly despatched, Liverpool will not fear anyone now.

Forget Michael Caine in the Italian Job, it is the men from Anfield who have now pulled off the most audacious heist Turin has ever known.

JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Buffon; Thuram, Montero (Pessotto 83), Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Camoranesi (Appiah 84), Olivera (Zalayeta 46), Emerson, Nedved; Ibrahimovic, Del Piero. Subs: Chimenti, Birindelli, Blasi, Masiello.
BOOKINGS: Ibrahimovic, Zambrotta (fouls).

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Dudek; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore; Nunez (Smicer 58), Alonso, Biscan, Riise; Garcia (Le Tallec 85), Baros (Cisse 75). Subs: Carson, Warnock, Welsh, Potter.
BOOKINGS: Alonso (dissent), Garcia, Finnan (fouls).

REFEREE: Nikolai Ivanov (Russia)

ATT: 59,400