The game that had it all

By Adrian Harte at Atatürk Olympic Stadium

Forty-nine years after the first European Champion Clubs' Cup final, the 50th final came to the edge of the continent and brought a continent to the edge of their seats as Liverpool FC came from 3-0 down to win their first UEFA Champions League crown and their fifth title in all after perhaps the best final to date.

Global audience
The competition has come a long way since that first final at the old Parc des Princes in 1956. That match was watched live only by the 33,000 fans in the stadium; tonight's match attracted an enthralled global live television audience of 200 million people.

Rousing reception
In the stadium, Liverpool had much the greater numbers and the fans soon made themselves heard with a rousing rendition of their "You'll Never Walk Alone" anthem. However, the Italian supporters had them beat for choreography with their dazzling display behind the goal switching from red, white and black stripes to hoops with coordination that matches anything managed in the theatrical pre-match display that evoked Star Wars in sound and scale.

Epic encounter
But even George Lucas would struggle to produce anything to match the epic that followed: a game to rival any of those previous 49 finals. The dull dour defensive tussle predicted by most thrillingly failed to materialise as Liverpool produced the greatest comeback in a final in the competition's illustrious history.

Maldini majestic
Milan were majestic in the opening period. Andrea Pirlo's first-minute free-kick found Paolo Maldini on the penalty spot and the seemingly ageless captain volleyed in for only his third goal in a record 148 European club appearances and a harbinger for a half in which everything went right for Milan. It was fitting reward on a night when the 36-year-old equalled Francisco Gento's record of seven final appearances.

Midfield dominance
Central to Milan's early dominance was the vision and metronomic passing of Pirlo, outshining Xabi Alonso in the early skirmishes. Tactically, Rafael Benítez had opted for offence in preferring Harry Kewell to Dietmar Hamann but Liverpool were left overrun in midfield, their inferiority exemplified by Kaká's nutmeg on Alonso 18 minutes in.

Clinical Crespo
On 39 minutes Hernán Crespo stroked the ball in seconds after Luis García's penalty appeal had been turned down and the Argentinian's clinical second strike five minutes later seemed to have settled the contest just before the interval with Liverpool looking like side that had finished 37 points off the pace in the English Premiership.

Stunning fightback
But their fans were not giving up just yet, belting out a defiant chorus of their famous anthem as the half-time whistle sounded. And their team responded, inspired to superhuman efforts after Hamann came in to shore up the midfield and Steven Gerrard was unleashed to do his buccaneering best. Cue Gerrard's 54th-minute header, the first of three goals in seven minutes. Substitute Vladimír Šmicer's second goal was followed by Alonso's penalty rebound as Benitez's interval reshuffle bore a rich bounty.

Ultimate drama
With extra time failing to separate the teams and a penalty shoot-out required to decide the outcome, it really was the match that had it all: goals, drama, suspense, tension, character and ultimately the particular agony and ecstasy that only this Russian roulette of football can bring. The competition's creator Gabriel Hanot would surely have approved.