Liverpool - Chelsea semi final
Entry posted by JayJay ·
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Great we contained Juventus the so called great team that was going to slaughter the REDS, well think again the REDS are back in Europe and its a pity we meet Chelsea in the Semi Final, wish it could of been and all English Final, anyway we can go all the way now, We beat a strongh Juventus team with a make over side and to top it off we stick on a Guy "Cisse" thats just recovered from a serious leg break, congrats to him and Rafa Benitez great tactian ANYHOW WE WON THIS ONE
"COME ON YOU REDS"
Game Summary
A terrific tactical display - masterminded by Rafa Benitez - saw Liverpool seal a 0-0 goal, which was all they needed after their 2-1 victory at Anfield last week.
Many regarded this as The Reds' biggest European night in nearly a quarter of a century and they did not disappoint as they now book a semi-final place - where they will face Premiership rivals Chelsea.
Violent scenes before the game, both inside and outside the ground threatened to overshadow the clash - but thankfully the Juventus fans behaved for the duration of the match, despite the fact their side bowed out.
Juve dominated the early possession and as such the pace of the game - in archetypal Italian style, it was slow and careful.
Despite seeing a lot of the ball, though, the Italians took ten minutes to create their first chance and it fell for Zlatan Ibrahimovic after a wonderful run down the left by Gianluca Zambrotta - his cross to the back post evaded Djimi Traore, but the Swede could only send the half-volley over the bar.
Liverpool gradually worked their way into proceedings but they were fearful of being caught on the counter-attack and never deployed and great amount of numbers.
Gianluigi Buffon was called up to be quick off his line to deny Luis Garcia a good chance and he did not disappoint as he claimed the ball ahead of the diminutive Spaniard.
Liverpool's decision to play one up-front in the shape of Milan Baros allowed Juve to revert to just three defenders, which gave Zambrotta licence to push up the field.
Pavel Nedved was struggling to get into the game, marshalled very well be the returning Xabi Alonso - starting his first game since New Years' Day, although it meant the Spaniard's attacking ambitions had to be quelled.
Juve, though, for all their possession were creating little and Emerson's 30-yard drive just before the interval - which fell well wide - summed up the home side's attacking efforts in the opening period.
Moments into the second period and Liverpool had a wonderful chance to open the scoring. Alonso shrugged off his defensive duties and threaded through a brilliant pass for Baros, he beat Paolo Montero but he fired agonisingly wide under pressure from Lilian Thuram.
Juve had introduced Marcelo Zalayeta at the interval for his ineffective countryman Ruben Olivera and his presence was felt early as he had an effort charged down by the Liverpool back-line.
Baros then had another decent chance as Garcia played him in, but this time it took a block from Fabio Cannavaro to deny the Liverpool striker.
Vladimir Smicer was then introduced for the anonymous Antonio Nunez and his first action almost saw him play in Baros, but Juve just managed to get back and clear.
Liverpool were comfortable and Juve did not register their first effort on target until just after the hour when Emerson's header from Mauro Camoranesi's header was well held by Jerzy Dudek - restored to the number one spot ahead of Scott Carson.
The Pole then coolly claimed a Camoranesi cross with Ibrahimovic and Zalayeta bearing down on him.
Juve grew increasingly desperate, but they were failing to create any clear cut chances with Sami Hyypia particularly looking imperious in defence - winning everything in the air.
Djibril Cisse then gave a real boost to Benitez's side as entered the fray for the first time since breaking his leg in October as Baros made way for the Frenchman.
Then almost from nothing, Juve came close to taking the lead and it again came from Cannavaro - the Juve scorer from the first leg.
Traore was the relieved man as he failed to clear at the back post and allowed the home side's skipper to get a header at goal - but his first effort hit the post and Dudek along with the French defender managed to scramble the ball behind.
Liverpool were still not without their own chances and Biscan should have tested Buffon with a free header 18-yards from goal, but the Croat headed over.
The expected late onslaught never arrived as the away side continued to dominate Juve's forwards, but still the final whistle was music to the ears of Liverpool's players and fans alike.
The Reds have now set up the clash with Chelsea - with The Blues at home in the first leg in two weeks - and that is the first time to English side have ever met in the last four of Europe's premier club competition.
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