Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool

It seemed as though Liverpool were about to pull off the impossible when, at half time, they led Chelsea two goals to nil. They had restored the initiative they lost in the first leg at Anfield, which they lost 3-1. So after 45 minutes the goals were level, but if the position had remained so, Chelsea would still have won by virtue of having scored three away goals.

Chelsea were not up to standard in the first half, and it seemed that starting the game in front, became a perverse disadvantage. Liverpool took advantage of the situation, and their first goal from an Aurelio free kick was pure magic. It was one of those rare, and opportune football moments, when a goal is produced out of nothing. Chelsea had plenty of players, in the vicinity of their own goalmouth, to prevent any mishaps. But Aurelio somehow forced the ball to the side of them and miraculously into the net.

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Liverpool deserved the penalty they won in the 28th minute, and Alonso fired the ball home from the spot, to punish Ivanovic for an ill timed foul, with his arms around the Spaniards body. That was how the first half ended and Liverpool looked to be the most likely winners. However, Gus Hiddink was not most pleased with his side's first half display and lack of purpose. He must have given them quite a talking to at the interval, and they emerged for the second half seemingly revitalised.

Goals from Drogba after 55 minutes, and Alex 5 minutes later, restored Chelsea's advantage. Reina could have been expected to save Drogba's flick, but Alex's free kick was a thunderbolt, and he had no chance of stopping it. When Frank Lampard scored, in the 76th minute, it was reasonable to assume the game was over. Manager Benitez might have shared that opinion, when he substituted Torres with Ngog, in the 89th minute. But his side thought differently and were not done with.

Lucas pulled one back for Liverpool after 81 minutes, and one minute later, in the blink of an eye, Kuyt scored another. So if they could somehow net one more goal, in the last ten minutes or so, they would win this fascinating seesaw of a match. It was not to be and it was the indomitable Frank Lampard who scored again in the 89th minute, to sew it up and make it a 7-5 aggregate triumph for Chelsea. It was a match to remember, one of the greats, and a feast of entertainment. Is there any wonder that International soccer at large, and the English Premiership in particular, is held in such high regard?

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Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool
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Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool