Watch: Liverpool edge Alavés in UEFA Cup final
Friday, August 28, 2015
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Nine goals, two red cards and one golden goal – the 2001 final between Liverpool and Alavés was unforgettable. Watch highlights ahead of the Reds' return to Europe.
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With Liverpool back in the UEFA Europa League group stage this season, UEFA.com remembers the last time they won the competition – in sensational fashion.
Gérard Houllier's team were 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3 up against Alavés in the 2001 UEFA Cup final in Dortmund. Their Spanish opponents refused to lie down, however, and forced extra time courtesy of Jordi Cruyff's 88th-minute equaliser. Their task became no easier, though, and after the dismissals of Magno and Antonio Karmona, Delfi Geli inadvertently turned into his own net – a golden goal – to hand the trophy to Liverpool.
"It was ridiculous – an unbelievable game," said Reds midfielder Vladimír Šmicer. "In the end we won the cup, my first European Cup with Liverpool, and it was one very crazy game." Gary McAllister, scorer of Liverpool's third goal, added: "The biggest thing was the amount of Liverpool fans. The electricity coming off the fans made every hair – I didn't have a lot of hair! – on my body stand up."
Click on the video above to watch full highlights of a remarkable game.
