Rafa lives to fight another day as Liverpool's late show flattens Milan
Liverpool conjured up a magnificant performance in the Champions League, and aided by some luck in Materazzi getting sent off, finally overcame Inter Milan to take charge of this tie.
Liverpool came straight out the blocks at Inter, seemingly intent on getting the early goal and the upper hand in this tie. However Inter quickly demonstrated a masterclass in defending and were clearly not fazed by the Anfield wall of noise. Also they were intent on stopping Liverpool's most attacking threats, Torres and Gerrard, by fair means or foul. Unfortunately for them referee Belgian Frank de Bleeckere was having none of it, and Materazzi paid for it on 30 minutes, when he picked up his second yellow card for the pull-back of Fernando Torres.
Despite this Liverpool created very little in the first half, and it was only into the second half that you really began to sense a Liverpool goal was coming. Eventually Crouch was brought on and almost made an immediate impact, shooting wide from the edge of the area, when he should have hit the target. Then on 75 minutes, Inter Milan's other centre half, Cordoba, was carried off and Inter began to give the footballing impression of a punch drunk boxer on the ropes.
Finally Kuyt swivelled to shoot home and give Liverpool the break-through on balance they deserved. Then very late, Gerrard took a pass from Pennant and sent a shot flying into the bottom corner to grab what may well prove to be a priceless second for Liverpool.
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