dreams crushed

"This team wins, loses and draws together"
- Steven Gerrard






We were so close, in the end, the step to Moscow is only separated by the width of an own goal from the 1st leg. There's no lack of effort from the lads but it was not meant to be our year :( At 3-1 down in extra time, we were down and out but I wasn't giving up, Babel gave us a glimmer of hope but it didn't materialize into a miracle. So,it's Chelsea who'll face Man Utd on May 21 in the first all-English final in the European Cup's 53-year history.

There were some talking points like we were denied a penalty which could have seen us qualified for the finals, Lampard's converted a penalty in memory of his mother, Rafa's decision to take Torres off the field (it's reported later that Torres had some hamstring problems)

Many people had also pointed at Rafa's pre-match comments about Drogba and said that has backfired and it psyched Drogba up for an inspired performance. His 2 goals might have proved that he is a good striker, but it didn't erase the fact he had always been a diver/cheater on the field.

I'm just sad that this year's champions league journey had all the makings of a very special one because of how we had to win all 3 group stage matches and bounced back from the dead, our victories against the current Italy Champions Inter Milan and beating Arsenal.

Maybe next year is the special one because its in Rome again, we have won twice at the Stadio Olimpico (76/77 & 83/84), it will be 25th anniveersary from 1984 and hopefully we can make it a memorable third win next year in Rome :)

~It's Only On Loan,Next year in Rome,We'll Bring It Back Home~

CHELSEA 3 - 2 LIVERPOOL
Wed 30/4/08 19:45,Champions League Semi Final(2),agg 4-3

Goals to remember :

4 mins : It's the Liverpool fans who are making their voices heard in the early stages
5 mins : First shot of the game goes to Drogba who forces Reina to concede a corner
9 mins : Great chance for Torres from a tight angle but Cech is out quickly to make a smart stop
18 mins : Best chance so far as Makelele slips the ball to Drogba who fires low past the far post. Really bad miss
22 mins : Substitution: Sami Hyypia for Martin Skrtel: Skrtel hobbles off to be replaced by Hyypia
33 mins : GOAL! Didier Drogba: Drogba blasts the ball home after Reina had saved from Kalou
42 mins : Ballack bends a free kick inches wide with Reina rooted to his goal
46 mins : Liverpool get the second half underway knowing they need to score
64 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Torres slots home after great play by Benayoun
78 mins : Substitution: Jermaine Pennant for Yossi Benayoun
20:37 GMT : Extra Time 1st Half Begins
91 mins : Liverpool get the first period of extra time underway
90 mins : Substitution: Nicolas Anelka for Joe Cole
95 mins : Essien goal disallowed as four players are offside
97 mins : PENALTY Scored! Frank Lampard: Lampard nets from the spot after a foul on Ballack by Hyypia
97 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Fernando Torres
105 mins : GOAL! Didier Drogba: Drogba slots home from close range to surely kill off Liverpool's European challenge for this season
20:55 GMT : Start of 2nd half of extra time
106 mins : Essien heads behind his own goal to concede a corner
116 mins : GOAL! Ryan Babel: Babel's shot slips through Cech's fingers. Still a chance
118 mins : Substitution: Andrei Schevchenko for Frank Lampard
21:11 GMT : Match Over