Liverpool beat Chelsea in shootout
Liverpool will hope to repeat their success of 2005
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Tuesday, 01, May 2007 11:29
Liverpool are through to the final of the Champions League after a penalty shootout victory over arch-rivals Chelsea.
Dirk Kuyt scored the winning goal as the Reds triumphed 4-1 courtesy of a spot-kick competition in the all-English semi-final at Anfield.
Jose Reina was the hero for the Reds, saving from Arjen Robben and Geremi before Kuyt converted the winner.
Penalties were needed after the match finished 1-1 on aggregate thanks to a Daniel Agger goal that levelled Joe Cole's winner from the first leg.
Agger scored with the first real chance of the game from a well-worked set-piece. Steven Gerrard looked set to shoot but instead squared the ball to Agger on the edge of the box and he guided it past Petr Cech's right hand.
Reina then made two good saves to keep his side in front before the break. First, he foiled Didier Drogba after the Ivorian had latched onto Jon Obi Mikel's through-ball.
And as the half was drawing to a close Frank Lampard struck a dipping free-kick but the Spaniard was able to punch the ball to safety despite the attentions of Drogba.
Chelsea were the busier defence in the second half as the home side pushed for a second goal.
Michael Essien was on hand twice to block goal-bound shots. He denied Kuyt after 63 minutes and was again on hand to keep out a Jermaine Pennant effort from 12 yards out.
Kuyt then almost gave Liverpool the lead but saw his header come back off the bar. John Arne Riise floated in a cross which the striker met well but he was denied by the frame of the goal.
Drogba had a glorious chance from three yards out but Jamie Carragher managed to meet Ashley Cole's cross just before the striker to prevent a certain goal and take the tie to extra time.
In the first period of the extra half-hour Liverpool continued to take the attack to the Blues, and Kuyt thought he had bagged the winner when he pounced on a rebound but it was ruled out for offside.
The second period of extra time was uneventful as both sides looked towards the inevitable penalty shoot-out.
The Kop was in full voice as the players prepared to take the kicks and that may have influenced Robben as he missed with the Blues' first effort.
Boudewijn Zenden and Xabi Alonso both scored and Frank Lampard got Chelsea on the scoresheet. Gerrard put the Reds 3-1 up and when Reina saved from Geremi it was left to Kuyt to seal the victory.