Translated material
English crossbow
Liverpool and Chelsea gave each other a goal
Two errors decided the outcome of the first semi-final match of the Champions League. To the mistake of the Chelsea defenders, who allowed the Liverpool team to open the scoring, the Reds responded with an own goal from their defender Riise in the last minutes. The hosts' gift so far looks more valuable: a goal scored on a foreign field can decide the outcome of a two-round match between generally equal opponents.“Liverpool” and “Chelsea” are so accustomed to each other that each of their new matches is like a continuation of an old conversation, suddenly interrupted due to some misunderstanding, but resuming again with the same phrase where it left off. No reconnaissance, no surprises in this protracted conversation - attacks roll in waves on one or the other half of the field, sometimes giving way to complete calm. And the final whistle of the referee only determines with which phrase the next 90 minutes will begin. Last time in the February Premier League match (0:0), the teams settled on a lackluster tactical confrontation. They started their semi-final conversation in the Champions League with him.
For almost forty minutes, the “red” and “blue” were engaged in tugging at the tactical blanket in the center of the field, secretly expecting at least the slightest mistake from each other. The owners were the first to wait for her. And not just one, but a whole series, which ended with Kuyt’s scoring strike. And this was the only moment in which Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, succumbing to the general mood of his team, did not act in the best way. “He was simply unlucky with the goal, because the ball slipped between his legs,” Chelsea coach Abraham Gran later defended his goalkeeper. “But then he made some good saves.” But this is Peter, we’re used to this!”
The stands saw Cech, familiar and beloved by Chelsea fans, in all his glory at the end of the second half. But before that, his colleague Reina had to worry more, who, however, was actively reassured by his own defenders. For example, former Zenit player Skrtel closed Drogba so tightly that the leader of Chelsea's attacks only helped his partners to play along. And they lacked composure in the final stage - Lampard and Malouda failed to score in situations in which Drogba probably would not have made a mistake.
But gradually the guests ran out of steam, and then it was Cech’s turn to show his skills. First, the goalkeeper pulled out the ball from the near corner, fired by Gerrard, and then parried Torres' point-blank shot.
So if it weren’t for Cech, who played not only in his signature helmet, but also in a special mask that protected his broken chin, then perhaps that curious return goal, which, perhaps, was destined to become decisive, would not have taken place. But when the Liverpool players, unable to beat the Blues goalkeeper, resigned themselves to a minimal victory and stopped looking for happiness in attack, Chelsea's luck smiled. In the fifth added minute, a non-committal cross found Riise's head, and he, knocking the ball over the goal line, sent it straight into the net - 1:1.
“Now it’s better to forget about everything and tune in to the positive,” Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez refused to remember this goal. - If we play next week the same way we played today and use our chances, we will go to Moscow. After all, we have already beaten Chelsea. Why don't we do this again?" Benitez is right - he has statistics on his side. In the two previous finals, in which the draw brought him against Chelsea, the final victory remained with the Reds. But both times in the return match the teams played at Anfield Road. Now they have to decide the fate of the confrontation at Stamford Bridge. But in any case, in the long conversation between Liverpool and Chelsea, neither one nor the other said the last word.
Champions League. Semi-final. First match. “Liverpool” – “Chelsea” – 1:1 ( Kuyt 43 – Riise 90 ).