27.09.2006 \ liverpool 3-2 galatasaray

..feza.. · Site Admin Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 304

WHEN Peter Crouch is almost bursting the net with a flying volley, you know it is a night to remember.

When that almost becomes incidental to a comeback that nearly matched Liverpool’s own heroics of two seasons ago, it borders on make-believe.

Yet that was exactly what we got at Anfield last night. Proof, once again, that they do not do things by halves here on European evenings.

Crouch’s moment in the sun arrived seven minutes into the second half of a Champions League game which constantly left you pinching yourself.

It came when Steve Finnan curled over a marvellous cross and the Reds centre-forward was horizontal as he scissor-kicked his shot into the corner.

It was a far cry from his last acrobatic attempt, which he simply bulleted into the corner flag while on World Cup duty for England against Trinidad and Tobago.

As his shot flew in, you would not have staked a brass farthing on anything other than a Liverpool stroll and one foot in the knockout stages.

Yet, amazingly, the comeback kings of the Champions League so nearly fell foul to a lost-cause retrieval mission to even eclipse their heroics in lifting the trophy in 2005.

Two headed goals from Galatasaray substitute Umit Karan meant the final whistle brought a collective sigh of relief from Reds fans.

Indeed, if Hakan Sukur had shown a touch more composure in the dying seconds — or if referee Luis Medina had taken a harsher line when the ball struck Fabio Aurelio’s arm — it could have been the ultimate nightmare.

As it is, in the months to come, all that matters at this stage of mini-leagues rather than two-legged ties is that Liverpool have their first win in the competition proper and their Champions League goal drought is over.

That barren spell dated back to Real Betis nearly 12 months and 451 minutes ago.

Yet last night it took just nine more to end it, courtesy — wouldn’t you guess? — of that man Crouch.

Rafa Benitez’s tinkerman policy may have been lambasted in recent weeks.

But when the five changes to Saturday’s team figure in all three goals it is hard to argue with his selection.

Crouch got the first. He pounced with a neat sidefooted volley when fellow returning star Aurelio picked him out with a wonderful curled cross from the left.

Six minutes later it looked all over as a serious contest when Jermaine Pennant and Luis Garcia celebrated their own recalls by combining for the second. Arda Turan had plenty of time to clear but dithered fatally — and Pennant was in like a shot.

Everyone, including keeper Faryd Mondragon, expected him to pick out Crouch in the middle.

But he foxed the lot by floating it to the far post and Garcia kept up his record as Liverpool’s European talisman by powering in a header.

Steven Gerrard’s viciously swerving drive from 35 yards nearly added another but Colombian keeper Mondragon saved with his legs with as much luck as judgment.

And Dirk Kuyt could have bagged a hat-trick. He struck a post and was within a whisker of converting a couple of other decent chances.

But no one knows better than this lot from Merseyside that not even a three-goal lead is always enough.

After all, who could forget that heady night in Istanbul 16 months ago when they clawed their way back against AC Milan before triumphing in that Jerzy Dudek-inspired penalty shootout?

This time it was the Reds who were so nearly on the receiving end as the men from the Turkish capital made the most of a combination of dozing defenders and clinical finishing.

First Umit popped up unmarked to thump in a header from Arda’s floated cross after an hour.

Seven minutes later he was on the spot once more when the cultured right boot of Sabri Sarioglu picked him out.

By then Sabri had also struck the upright with a free kick and Jamie Carragher — the fifth man back in from the start — produced two magnificently brave blocks to deny rebound efforts from Umit and Sukur.

Suddenly it was all hands to the pump. On another day Aurelio could easily have conceded a penalty when he appeared to use a hand in a packed box in the dying seconds. And only former Blackburn striker Sukur will know why he chose to use his left foot rather than a more obvious header with the Reds backline ushering him through again.

Fortunately for Liverpool he chose the wrong option — and the Turkish comeback fell short.

With Benitez in charge, somehow you do not think Liverpool will make the same mistake again.

the sun