Iconic images: 'And mission impossible, is accomplished!'
Throughout LFC's 125th anniversary year, Liverpoolfc.com will retrace the club's history through the striking images that plot a fascinating journey.
Nineteenth in the series is a photograph showing the final act of what was, in the words of Carlo Ancelotti, ‘six minutes of madness’.
“Step up, Xabi Alonso - with the chance to equalise, yes, equalise for Liverpool…”
Clive Tyldesley’s words surely sum up the sense of incredulity that every viewer was feeling.
Gennaro Gattuso had hauled Steven Gerrard down, referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez had pointed to the spot, and Alonso had the chance to equalise, yes, equalise for Liverpool.
Equalise he did. Eventually.
“…and mission impossible, is accomplished! Liverpool were 3-0 down five minutes ago, and now, look at that scoreline!” Tyldesley reported.
Somehow, some way, it was 3-3. The Reds had made the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ possible.
Mission impossible truly was accomplished a couple of hours later, when Jerzy Dudek saved Andriy Shevchenko’s punch-drunk penalty to conclude the most remarkable, implausible, downright-crazy Champions League final in history.
This iconic image shows Alonso just, and only just, beating Alessandro Nesta to the rebound after Dida had saved his low spot-kick. With the AC Milan goalkeeper sprawled on the turf, Alonso lifted his shot into the roof of an unguarded net.
Cue disbelieving bedlam among Liverpool fans the world over.
Old Big Ears was destined for Merseyside... again.
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