Liverpool's night of drama

By Helen Brown in Liverpool

One major European city was always going to join the celebrations in Istanbul last night, but at half-time it looked unlikely to be Liverpool.

First-half dampener
A pre-match mood of optimism among the thousands of fans gathering in the English city's bars was soon dispelled by a marauding first-half performance by AC Milan. Heads were bowed, songs were muffled and by the time the third goal went in, fans were hailing taxis to go home. Liverpool FC supporters had all but given up on a fifth European Champion Clubs' Cup.

Captain marvel
But, like against Olympiacos CFP on Matchday 6 of the group stage, one man almost single-handedly changed the game and rescued his side's flagging fortunes. That man was again local golden boy Steven Gerrard and Kopites will hope his 54th-minute strike proves pivotal in his decision to stay at Anfield, rather than make a speculated summer move to Stamford Bridge.

Renewed hope
From that moment on, the fans packed into the Concert Square area of Liverpool were rejuvenated. Despair and disappointment disappeared as the feelings of hope and expectation with which they had entered the game emerged once more. And euphoria soon changed to ecstasy as the masses watched, mouths agape as another shot evaded Dida, then another.

Historic moment
From then on there seemed no looking back. Spectators in bars sang in unison with their friends in Istanbul. Each pass, shot and challenge was cheered to the rafters from fans who were growing increasingly confident that this was destined to be their night. The impending miracle brought yet more supporters on to the streets, joining mounting queues to get into the packed pubs and having to be satisfied with watching glimpses of the game through increasingly steamed-up windows. This was one match people realised they could not miss.

Spirit of Grobbelaar
And then extra time. Where 40 minutes earlier, no one could have envisaged the match going beyond the 90 minutes, now Liverpool's red half expected. No nails were being bitten - this was to be Liverpool's year. The penalty shoot-out evoked a similar confidence as fans recalled 1984 and the bandy-legged antics of Bruce Grobbelaar to deny AS Roma - the stuff of legend.

Liverpool erupts
Jerzy Dudek adopted a similar technique and after denying Andrea Pirlo, a hush descended on the city as Andriy Shevchenko stepped up to keep Milan in with a chance. Dudek dived but stuck out a leg and the Ukrainian's effort came rolling back towards him. The city erupted and thousands poured on to the streets to celebrate the Reds' fifth success, tooting car horns, waving flags and singing the names of their heroes long into the night.