UCL 2007-2008 Semi-Finals Day One - Match Reports

Newshound · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 32215

22 April 2008 
 
LIVERPOOL 1 (Kuyt 43) 
CHELSEA 1 (Riise 95 og) 
 
Kuyt should have been booked for bringing a glorious 60 yard pass Xabi Alonso pass under control with his arm, the ball bounced away and combination of Cech and Carvalho cleared the danger. Not surprisingly neither of the imbeciles on ITV noticed the handball. Drogba went down in the box under a clumsy challenge by Carragher but as we all know Carragher and that dirty little bastard Mascherano can commit on-field buggery at Anfield. Two minutes later Liverpool broke on a counter attack, Carvalho appeared to clear the danger with an excellent sliding tackle on Torres but Gerrard intercepted and sent Torres through with a superb pass but Cech, taking up a perfect position off his near post, stood firm and parried. Liverpool were awarded an extremely soft free kick after Torres went down under a Ballack challenge. As Lampard back heeled the ball and strolled downfield the ref watched Xabi Alonso, standing 20 yards away from where Torres was fouled, send the ball down the right channel towards Kuyt. His cross was headed clear, Lampard foolishly tried to dribble the ball out of defence but Kuyt pressed him into losing possession, Xabi Alonso back heeled to Mascherano and his miss-hit shot dropped over the Chelsea defence and Kuyt shrugged off a pathetic Makelele challenge to fire Liverpool in front. 
 
Kuyt intercepted Makelele's awful pass out of defence, it was over a distance of 10 yards which is his limit, and let the ball run to Gerrard, the Liverpool captain played a give and go, brushing aside Makelele as he ran into the box and hit a fabulous dipping volley matched by Cech's spectacular one handed save. 90 minutes of catenaccio at Stamford Bridge were looming large before Riise mercifully put the ball into his own net. Kuyt went in high on Kalou for a 50-50 ball and the ref awarded Chelsea a throw in. Cole throw the ball at Kalou, he turned Arbeloa before driving a low centre into the box and with Anelka on his shoulder Riise sent a spectacular diving header past Reina. 
 
Makelele was beyond awful but Grant probably felt he couldn't trust card magnet Mikel. He should have played Alex as DM instead. Makelele has always been a poor man's Gattuso. Essien returns from suspension in the second leg but just as importantly both Carragher and Gerrard are carrying yellows so let's hope for a good referee and by good I mean one who books them. 
 
Attendance : 42,180 
Assists : Mascherano, n/a 
 
 
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