by Leonmc0708 » Wed Mar 31, 2004 1:59 pm
My recolletion of the greatest game in living memory ...
Let me take you back, two years, ten months and 17 days ago. The Westfalenstadion in the busy city of Dortmund Germany. A day every Liverpool supporter of the current generation will remember with warm memories.
The pre match atmosphere in the small square in the middle of a busy Dortmund shopping area was electric. Fresh from the red hot day at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff when Michael Owen single handidly (well Berger deserves a mention for the pass, and that save from Henchoz was world class) won the FA Cup against a Gunners side who looked sure to steam roller the reds at half time.
It seemed as though the whole of Anfield Stadium had poured into the small opening behind the shops where the stage was set up. Gary McAllister's father lead the singing on stage, assisted by Cast. Eric Meijer led the singing (and the drinking) in the crowd, and games of keepy up with inflatable beach balls broke out all over the thousands strong crowd.
Then it was all on the underground system, packed in like sardines, but still singing loudly. All off and then we tried to find the beer tents outside the ground. Then the Liverpool team bus pulled up towards the ground. How the driver on the bus got a job is anyones guess, it took the guy fifty plus attempts to get thru the gates, and even then he took the post with him.
As we filed into the ground, we looked round for the alaves supporters, where where they? It was like a home game, the travelling Kop filling all four sides of the ground apart from half of one end behind the goal.
"The good thing about this team..." Mr Houllier lamented following what many beleive was the greatest European tie ever played out "...is that you never feel there is a split or lack of togetherness when something goes wrong"
How right those words were. As the match kicked off, the noise was deafining. Not since the Glory days of yesteryear had the players, people and supporters of Liverpool felt the great sense of Spirit and togetherness that had come flooding back on that magical night in Germany.
In little under five minutes, the press men who had talked of boring Liverpool and dull scoreless draws were made to eat their words. A towering header from the majestic Babbel had put the reds into the lead, and the Westfalenstadion went crazy. Of the reported sixty five thousand attendees, around fifty thousand must surely have been wearing the mighty Liver bird upon their chests.
After just under quarter of an hour, and following a number of decent chances Gerrard superbly picked up Owens pass (yes pass) and drilled the ball low into the corner to Herrera's left. The reds looked rampant, but in all honesty it was alaves who made us look good. Maybe the occasion of the clubs first major final was getting to the players.
Reds could have been forgiven for thinking this was going to be a breeze. This thought was highlighted when Alaves decided to make a rather early looking change. Ivan Alonso replaced a dejected looking Eggen, and it proved to be a master stroke from the Alaves management. Alaves looked like a totally different outfit and it took the substitute little more than five minutes to score, GAME ON.
As half time creeped up, Owen was fouled in the area, and to the joy of every red the referee, Mr Veissiere awarded a penalty. Gary " cool as a cucumber" McAllister steped up and slotted the spot kick with the usual aplomb. Three one up at half time, reds fans where well happy, and many beleived the defensive tendencies would kick in and see Liverpool through to the final whistle.
WRONG. As was often the case, the Liverpool players seemed to be half asleep at the start of the second half, and the impressive Javi Moreno scored twice early on to level the game, and Liverpool looked rattled. chances for both sides followed, before Mr Houllier replaced Heskey with Robbie Fowler with little more than fifteen minutes left on the clock. Who else but Roberto Fowleros popped up soon after with a typically instinctive half volley to put the reds ahead once more.
Surely the drama was over now. WRONG who else but the ex-Man United midfielder and son of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, Jordi slotted a good header from inside the penalty area, forcing extra time.
Not only extra time, but Golden Goal. The nerves were unreal. We only had to score to win, but if we were to concede, the treble dream was over. There were chances for both sides, and Sander Westerveld made a great save to keep us in the game. Every one was looking around the pitch for possible penalty takers. Carragher was high on the list after his top corner one against crying Birmingham in the Millenium Stadium win in March.
A free kick was awarded near the corner of the penalty area. McAllister stepped up to take it and Almost everyone piled into the box. After the trademark dummy, McAllister powered a dangerous free kick into the danger zone.
Was it just me or did it all happen in slow motion? The unfortunate Geli got the final touch, but no body seemed to care. The stadium went totally beserk. Men hugged men, jumped around and some even kissed one another. John Aldridge who must have been in the commentary position at the opposite end from the goal was mobbed as he jumped around and cheered with the fans.
What a year, what a night and what an horrendous 18 hour journey home on the Barnes coach. It was worth it though.
JUSTICE FOR THE 96
