[lfc-news] Juventus report - PA

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PA Sport, 13 April 2005
Juventus 0 Liverpool 0 (agg: 1-2)

Liverpool produced the miracle performance nobody expected here in the
Stadio delle Alpi to force their way into the Champions League semi-finals.

They fought like men possessed, deep in defence but never in panic and
Juventus were reduced to almost a standstill as Liverpool reached their
first European Cup semi-final since the Heysel season, 20 years ago.

The heroes were Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia at the back, Xabi Alonso
in midfield and tireless battlers like John Arne Riise and Igor Biscan.
But the triumph belongs to boss Rafael Benitez, who somehow produced a
game plan to defy one of the best sides in Europe.

The noise of police helicopters and the whistling derision of Juve's
fans hung over this vast concrete bowl of a stadium.

Liverpool's fans had been taken from the airport before the game to
out-of-town restaurants and bars before being bussed straight into the
stadium in an attempt to keep both sets of supporters apart on what is a
night of bitter memories for the Turin public who honoured the memory of
the 39 fans who died 20 years ago at Heysel.

Banners draped from the Ultras' end said "39 angels are with us tonight"
and "What is deep in the heart never dies." But sadly, although a vast
empty area had been left around the Liverpool fans, missiles were being
exchanged before the match.

It is hard to know who started it, but objects were clearly being thrown
from both sets of fans and the pitiful amount of stewards - one thin
line of yellow - were doing nothing to stop it. Liverpool's fans
retreated back up the terraces and under cover, but the incident left a
bad tasted in the mouth and it took an age for the police to move into
an area between the rival fans.

Order had been restored when the game finally started and after a quiet
start, Juventus should have been level on aggregate after 11 minutes
when Zlatan Ibrahimovic met a left wing cross just six yards out and
hoisted his effort over the bar.

Liverpool were not defending as deeply as had been expected, and Xabi
Alonso was finding yards of space to link defence with attack.

And it was he who created Liverpool's best early chance when he fed the
ball into Luis Garcia's path, but Gianluigi Buffon was swiftly off his
line to snatch possession from the forward's feet.

Pavel Nedved and Alessandro Del Piero were threatening to evade
Liverpool's offside trap, but the Anfield men got to the half-hour stage
still with their one goal advantage intact. Xabi Alonso got himself
booked for dissent on 33 minutes, his long-running arguments with
referee Valentin Ivanov finally causing the Russian to lose his patience.

But the pressure was being increased and Del Piero almost put Nedved
through with a fine pass only for the Juve fans to be enraged by a
raised linesman's flag.

Luis Garcia and Baros both almost caught the home defence cold with
interceptions, but Liverpool were soon back on the defensive with Jamie
Carragher and Hyypia holding firm.

With the hard-running John Arne Riise playing defensively, Liverpool
were stifling the Juve advances, but a shot from Nedved cannoned away
and then Emerson fire wide.

Juventus brought on an extra striker in Marcelo Zalayeta for Olivera at
the break and were now playing 4-3-3.

But it was Liverpool who should have been ahead after 56 minutes, a
priceless moment that they had been hoping for as they defended with
their lives.

The ball which created the opening was an excellent pass from Xabi
Alonso to find Baros in a couple of yards of space. He held off Montero
as he forced his way into the area but his shot slipped inches wide of
the far post.

Lilian Thuram was booked for a foul on Luis Garcia soon after, and Baros
again almost forced his way through after 57 minutes, cutting across the
face of the box to see his effort deflected wide.

And on the hour, Vladmir Smicer took over from Antonio Nunez, a gamble
by Benitez as he looked for that one piece of attacking flair which
would make all the difference.

After 65 minutes Ibrahimovic was booked for barging Hyypia, Juventus'
frustrations now becoming clear as they fought for the goal that would
surely see them through.

It almost came a minute later when Nedved's header from a free kick by
Mauro Camoranesi was saved by Dudek. Del Piero was next into the book
following an exchange with Smicer.

Igor Biscan was booked as Liverpool were pushed back, and in the 76th
minute Djibril Cisse came on for his first match since breaking his leg
in October, replacing Baros.

Steve Finnan was booked and from the free-kick Fabio Cannavaro saw a
header hit the post, bounce back and hit Dudek and somehow stay out.

Biscan headed over from a Xabi Alonso free-kick, Juve now being whistled
by their own fans, before Fabio Capello threw on Gianluca Pessotto and
Stephen Appiah for Cannavaro and Camoranesi, searching for inspiration
and fresh legs. Luis Garcia was then replaced by Anthony Le Tallec with
five minutes left.

Liverpool though fought like tigers and erupted in joy at the final whistle.

Juventus: Buffon, Cannavaro, Montero (Pessotto 83), Thuram, Zambrotta,
Camoranesi (Appiah 84), Emerson, Nedved, Olivera (Zalayeta 45), Del
Piero, Ibrahimovic
Subs not used: Birindelli, Blasi, Chimento, Masiello
Booked: Montero, Ibrahimovic, Zambrotta, Emerson

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Finnan, Hyypia, Traore, Alonso, Biscan,
Luis Garcia (Le Tallec 85), Nunez (Smicer 58), Riise, Baros (Cisse 75)
Subs not used: Carson, Potter, Warnock, Welsh
Booked: Alonso, Finnan

Att: 55,464
Referee: V Ivanov (Russia)

CARRAGHER: WE'RE BACK WHERE WE BELONG

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher tonight insisted the club were back
where they belong as the Reds reached the last four of the Champions League.

They held Juventus to a goalless draw at the Stadio delle Alpi to set up
a semi-final clash with Chelsea and aside from one Fabio Cannavaro
header hitting the post, they defended stoutly.

Carragher told Sky Sports: "We've had a history of being one of the top
teams in Europe and getting to the semi-finals of the Champions League
is where the club needs to be every season. We need to get into these
type of situations.

"Juventus are a top team and we were playing against some top players.
We knew they would have good chances but I think they had more chances
at Anfield, Ibrahimovic missed in the first half and then I don't know
how Cannavaro's header stayed out, but besides that we kept them out well.

"You've got to keep it tight. It gives you more belief to get to
half-time at 0-0, it's little stages all the time, and in the end we got
to final whistle."

Asked about the semi-final against Chelsea, who have had the upper hand
on the Reds domestically this season, he added: "We'll be desperate to
beat them, all the games we've played against them have been very tight
so hopefully it will go our way."

Sami Hyypia, who alongside Carragher put in a sterling defensive
display, said: "Both games were very good. Sometimes you have to fight
and keep the goal clean, and we did it."

Reds manager Rafael Benitez admitted his players had been forced to work
hard for the aggregate victory.

"I am very proud of the staff, the workers, and the players and for us
it was important for the supporters.

"We knew that it was going to be difficult to create chances but playing
against Juve, with set pieces, long balls, we needed to concentrate for
all of the game."

Benitez reserved special praise for Xabi Alonso, who completed his
return from a broken foot to complete 90 minutes and hold his team together.

"We needed a player who can keep the ball and pass it, and he had a very
good game."

Liverpool's best chance fell to Milan Baros early in the second half
when Xabi Alonso set the Czech striker free but under pressure, he could
only put it wide.

"I was very disappointed but if you create some chances they will be
afraid and you can control the game," Benitez told Sky Sports.

Liverpool's form in the Champions League has been far better than their
domestic performances and the former Valencia coach believes momentum is
the key factor in that.

"In the Champions League we have a clear idea and maybe more
confidence," he added.

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