2005 UEFA Champions League Final vs AC Milan

Lore & Background

Milan were regarded as favourites before the match and took the lead within the first minute through captain Paolo Maldini. Milan striker Hernán Crespo added two more goals before half-time to make it 3–0. In the second half Liverpool launched a comeback and scored three goals in a dramatic six-minute spell to level the scores at 3–3, with goals from Steven Gerrard, Vladimír Šmicer and Xabi Alonso. The scores remained the same during extra time, and a penalty shoot-out was required to decide the champions. The score was 3–2 to Liverpool when Andriy Shevchenko's penalty was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek. It was Liverpool's fifth European Cup, which meant they were awarded the trophy permanently and the right to wear a multiple-winner badge. Liverpool's comeback gave rise to the final being known as the Miracle of Istanbul.

In Their Own Story

The humid air of Istanbul hung heavy over the pitch as the referee blew the whistle for halftime. Inside the dressing room, silence was broken only by the heavy breathing of men who had just been humiliated. Steven Gerrard looked around at his teammates, seeing not defeat in their eyes, but a dormant fire waiting to be reignited. 'We are not done,' he whispered, and those three words became the catalyst for history.

Reader's Guide

Liverpool finished second in their group behind 2004 runners-up Monaco and subsequently beat Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea to progress to the final. Milan won their group ahead of Barcelona and faced Manchester United, Inter Milan and PSV Eindhoven before reaching the final. Each club played 12 matches in total to reach the final.

Did You Know?

• Liverpool's comeback is regarded as one of the greatest finals in the history of the tournament.
• Milan were appearing in their tenth final overall, having won six times previously.
• Liverpool's fifth European Cup meant they were awarded the trophy permanently.