Diego Forlan’s 102nd-minute goal ended Liverpool’s hopes of a first trophy in four years as Rafa Benitez’s side were denied a place in the Europa League final by Atletico Madrid on the away-goals rule.
On a dramatic night at Anfield, Yossi Benayoun’s 95th-minute goal, which gave the hosts a 2-1 semi-final aggregate advantage, looked to have booked Liverpool a place in their third European final in six seasons. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Alberto Aquilani had leveled the aggregate scores with a sublime finish, before Benayoun struck early in extra-time.
However, former Manchester United striker Forlan, whose goal gave Atletico a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg, sent the Spaniards through to face Fulham in the May 12 final in Hamburg and left Liverpool to reflect on a fourth successive season without a trophy.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“It didn’t matter who scored tonight. It was a difficult game and we knew they would come after us,” Forlan said. “They played well in the first half and then we settled down. We made a mistake on their goal in extra-time, but we knew one goal would do it for us.”
Liverpool made two changes to their starting line-up from last week’s first leg as Sotiros Kyrgiakos was replaced by Aquilani, with Javier Mascherano dropping into the back four and Ryan Babel coming in for the injured David Ngog.
After Forlan’s goal had given the Spaniards a narrow advantage from the first leg, Liverpool desperately required a positive start and they almost got it when Benayoun powered his way into the Atletico area after Dirk Kuyt’s flick-on, but the Israeli’s effort was kept out by goalkeeper David de Gea.
Liverpool’s followers had been warmed by the fact that Benitez’s team had gone on to eliminate Lille and Benfica in the previous two rounds after losing the first legs, but without 22-goal leading scorer Fernando Torres they struggled to hurt their opponents, despite carving out a string of chances, before eventually making the breakthrough.
Aquilani, before his goalscoring contribution, was guilty of firing straight at the goalkeeper from a good position, yet it was Kuyt who was guilty of the most glaring miss. The Dutchman, spearheading the attack, blazed over from close range after Mascherano had whipped in a 26th-minute cross.
Liverpool were fortunate not to be dead and buried by then after Raul Garcia had forced Jose Reina into a fine save with a rasping long-range effort.
Daniel Agger had the ball in the net in the 32nd minute, only for the effort to be ruled out by an offside flag, a decision that left the home fans more restless, but just a minute before halftime Liverpool got the breakthrough they craved following Aquilani’s sublime finish.
Having struggled to adapt to his new surroundings since signing from AS Roma in August last year, Aquilani at least proved he knows how to find the net with a terrific 15m strike.
Benitez’s side were given a reminder that their work was far from complete when Paulo Assuncao went close in the 52nd minute. Liverpool’s defense backed off and allowed the Atletico player to have a shot from distance, Assuncao’s effort only just clearing the bar.
With the scores locked at 1-1 and extra-time looming, Glen Johnson was determined to book Liverpool’s place in the final without the need of an extra 30 minutes. The England fullback launched a vicious 80th-minute drive toward the Atletico net, only for de Gea to get his hand in the way.
In extra-time, Benayoun thought he had won it for the hosts with a fine finish from an acute angle following Lucas’ ball over the top of the defense, before the unmarked Forlan had the last say.
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