GALATASARAY SK 3 LIVERPOOL 2

Highlights..



liverpoolfc.tv reports..

Three goals in six minutes, an impressive comeback but no 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at half-time – Liverpool's return to the Ataturk Stadium probably won't follow their first visit on the night of May 25 2005 into European Cup folklore.
The venue ? still resembling a spaceship stranded miles from nowhere ? might have been the same but little else about Liverpool's latest visit to Istanbul evoked memories of the greatest night in the club's history.

Having taken a first-half lead through Robbie Fowler, the home side took all three worthless points thanks to two quick-fire first-half strikes from Necati Ates and Okan Buruk and a late goal from substitute Sasa Ilic before Fowler scored a late consolation goal for the Liverpool.

While Rafael Benitez won't have enjoyed seeing Jerzy Dudek concede three goals on Turkish soil again, he'll at least take heart from the fact that his players emerged injury-free from a rare 'competitive' match with absolutely nothing at stake.

Of the 11 players who started the final against AC Milan on May 25 2005, only Jerzy Dudek, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso and John Arne Riise started a game that was deemed meaningless the moment Liverpool's victory over PSV coupled with Galatasaray's defeat to Bordeaux ensured the Reds topped Group C with the Turks finishing bottom.

With nothing but pride to play for, Benitez took the opportunity to rest a number of first team regulars with Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard, Steve Finnan and Sami Hyypia all left at home and Luis Garcia, a starter against Milan, on bench.
In their place, the manager handed youth a chance with Daniel Agger, Lee Peltier, Gabriel Paletta and Danny Guthrie all being given the chance to state their case for more regular involvement.

While Liverpool fans were still trying to figure out where all the youngsters were playing, the home side almost opened the lead through a long-range Sabri Sarioglu free-kick that narrowly missed Dudek's post. The exciting start was slightly misleading however as the action appeared to fizzle out almost as quickly as it had begun.
With the pace of the game in danger of becoming testimonial-like, Robbie Fowler finally injected a little excitement into the contest by managing to somehow bundle the ball into the net for the opening goal after 22 minutes. Reacting first to a low Craig Bellemy cross, Fowler was in the right place at the right time to use his thigh to guide the ball past goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon for the scrappiest finish you'll see this season.

The smile on the striker's face as he was congratulated by Alonso was probably one of embarrassment as much as joy. The visitor's lead was short-lived however; from being one-nil up after 22 minutes, Liverpool found themselves 2-1 down within six minutes as the game exploded into life. Just two minutes after Fowler had broken the deadlock, a rare stray pass from Xabi Alonso in his own half gifted Necati Ates with a clear opportunity to slot the ball low past Dudek to level the scores.

If the equaliser could have been avoided, there could be no complaints about Galatasaray's second goal. When Paletta headed Marcelo Carrusca's corner out of the box, the danger looked to have passed until Okan Buruk connected with the sweetest of volleys from 40 yards out to give Dudek no chance. As six-minute comebacks go, it wasn't quite Liverpool v AC Milan but it was pretty impressive all the same.

Despite Fowler going close from a well worked free-kick midway through the second-half, a third goal for the home side effectively sealed the game with 10 minutes to go before Fowler added his second of the night with a clinical header after good work from Jermaine Pennant.

Five goals there might have been but don't expect to be seeing this match on DVD anytime soon.


cheers,
11.50pm