Liverpool crown stunning comeback in shootout

Milan 3
Liverpool 3
(Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties)

Liverpool made history by coming from 3-0 to draw 3-3 with Milan and win an astonishing Champions League final 3-2 on penalties in Turkey last night.

Premier League side Liverpool scored three goals in six minutes to take the match into extra time and when Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko's spot-kick in the shootout was saved by goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek the biggest turnaround in a European Cup final was complete.

"I don't think I have the words to express how I feel at this moment," said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez after his club's fifth European Cup triumph.

The match came 20 years after Liverpool's last European Cup final against Juventus, which was overshadowed by the deaths of 39 mainly Italian fans at the Heysel stadium in Brussels following a charge by the English club's supporters.

"I don't think anyone's ever seen a game like that.

"At half-time the manager was just trying to keep our heads up," said Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia.

Milan captain Paolo Maldini put his side ahead after just 53 seconds with a downward volley from an Andrea Pirlo free-kick, which bounced through a crowded area and beat Dudek's outstretched arm.

The defender's goal, his first of the season, was the fastest in a European Cup final since Enrique Mateos for Real Madrid against Stade de Reims in 1959.

At 36, the Milan captain also became the oldest player to score in a final.

Benitez was forced into a change in the 23rd minute when Australian Harry Kewell, a surprise starter, picked up a knock and had to be replaced by Czech midfielder Vladimir Smicer.

Milan remained on top, though, and European Footballer of the Year Shevchenko had an effort ruled out for offside in the 29th minute.

Six minutes before the break Brazilian Kaka fed Shevchenko on the right and the Ukrainian picked out Crespo at the back post with a low cross which the Argentine tapped home to make it 2-0.

Two minutes before the interval Kaka produced a magical turn to lose Steven Gerrard in midfield and he delivered a defence splitting pass which Crespo confidently chipped past the advancing Dudek to give the Italians a commanding 3-0 lead.

Within the space of 15 minutes of the second half, however, Liverpool were level with three quick-fire goals that left the Italians simply stunned.

First Gerrard rose well to head a John Arne Riise cross past the stationary Dida and two minutes later German Dietmar Hamann, a half-time substitute, set up Smicer who beat Dida with a low drive from 20 metres.

With Milan's defence reeling, Gerrard burst into the Milan penalty area and was bundled over by Gennaro Gattuso for a penalty.

Dida dived to parry out Xabi Alonso's spot-kick but the Spaniard hammered the loose ball into the roof of the net to complete a remarkable comeback with the third of three goals in six minutes.

The game settled down and there were few real chances but Shevchenko almost won it for Milan two minutes from the end of extra time when his powerful header was brilliantly saved by Dudek who threw up a hand to deny the striker's follow-up.

Liverpool took control of the shootout when Serginho and Pirlo failed with Milan's first two penalties.

Dietmar Hamann, Djibril Cisse and Smicer scored for Liverpool and Shevchenko's weak effort from the spot was comfortably saved by Dudek to seal the English side's triumph.

Milan: Dida; Cafu, Stam, Nesta, Maldini; Gattuso (Rui Costa 112), Pirlo, Kaka, Seedorf (Serginho 86); Shevchenko, Crespo (Tomasson 85).

Liverpool: Dudek; Finnan (Hamann 46), Carragher, Hyypia, Traore; Garcia, Alonso, Gerrard, Riise; Kewell (Smicer 23), Baros (Cisse 85).

Referee: Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).

Scorers: Maldini (1), Crespo (39, 43); Gerrard (54), Smicer (56), Alonso (60).

HT: 3-0. Attendance: 68,000.

Penalty sequence

Serginho (M) missed - 0-0; Hamann (L) scored - 0-1; Pirlo (M) missed - 0-1; Cisse (L) scored 0-2; Tomasson (M) scored - 1-2; Riise (L) missed - 1-2; Kaka (M) scored - 2-2; Smicer (L) scored - 2-3; Shevchenko (M) missed - 2-3.