It is considered the greatest spectacle in world football, which happened in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul, Turkey. AC Milan had become a dominant force in football and had won six finals up to that point. It was their second final in three years but tenth overall, Liverpool were four times winners, and this was their sixth appearance after losing the 1985 final to a now legendary Juventus line-up.
Pundits predicted that AC Milan would win the final at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium because they boasted a team with 2004 Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko. He was among Europe’s top three most prolific goal scorers and was poised to get the goals needed in the game. Some publications estimate that it was the second most-watched sports game in the world that year after the American Super Bowl final of the NFL.
A significant audience tuned in from the USA, especially in legal sports betting states like Nevada and Delaware, and placed wagers on the match. They were one of the few states where sports betting was legal, and there were plenty of bets that night. Nonetheless, the odds shifted quickly in AC Milan’s favour after their captain Paolo Maldini scored in the first minute.
By the 44th minute, AC Milan were three goals up after their second striker Hernan Crespo scored two goals in six minutes. The stadium in Istanbul was ecstatic as Milan fans chanted their favourite slogans to spur on their team for what would be their seventh crown in their history.
On the other end, Liverpool fans were left shell-shocked and remained silent in the crowd of 69,000. Each team had been allocated 20,000 tickets, while 14,400 were sold to the general public. Some fans on the losing team could be spotted by cameras overcome with emotion as they shed tears uncontrollably.
Others stood like pillars in disbelief as the Italians started the party, and the cameras could zoom into their section as they doused themselves in beer and song. Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez had been forced into an early change in the 23rd minute after star player Harry Kewell suffered a groin injury for Vladimir Smicer.
Furious at the halftime performance, he needed to make some changes to the team. When they came onto the pitch for the second half, he substituted Steve Finnan for experienced German midfielder Dietmar Hamman. It proved a masterstroke because the creative midfield of Kaka, Seerdorf, and Pirlo were restricted in movement by Gerrard, Alonso, and the energetic Hamman.
While AC Milan’s midfielders attempted to move forward and kill off the game, they exposed the ever-solid Gennaro Gattuso behind to cover the defence. He was arguably among the best defensive midfielders in the world and nicknamed ‘the tiger.’
Benitez had a simple game plan to attack using two strikers, Baros and Smicer, supported by two wingers, Luis Garcia and Riise. Captain Steven Gerrard would make late runs as his primary role was to carry the ball from defence to attack. Hamman and Alonso would cover the defence in the event of a counterattack.
After 54 minutes, the tactics worked because Traore, the Liverpool left-back confined to defend most of the game, launched an attack. A precise cross into the Milan box found Gerrard, who made a late run and headed home. Smicer scored with a beautiful shot in the 56th minute before Gerrard won a penalty. In the 60th minute, Alonso converted a rebound after Milan goalkeeper Dida saved his spot-kick.
After no goals in extra time, the game went into penalties. While Hamman and Djibril Cisse scored, Serginho and Pirlo’s penalties were saved. Tomasson and Kaka scored for Milan as Riise missed and Smicer scored. Eventually, Liverpool keeper Dudek made his third penalty save to deny Shevchenko. Many fans said he deserved the player of the match, which was given to captain Steven Gerrard for inspiring the unforgettable 6-minute comeback of Istanbul.
