Champions League: Liverpool win 7-6 on aggregate; advance to final
By Orri Benatar
Liverpool felt confident they would advance to the Champions League final after their win last week. A very shaky performance in Rome almost knocked them out.
Roma entered their home stadium needing a three-goal win after 90 minutes to shock the world and advance to the Champions League final. Things didn’t start off well after Sadio Mane scored nine minutes in to extend Liverpool’s aggregate lead to 6-2.
Roma was able to tie it 1-1 just six minutes later. James Milner had this unfortunate own goal that tied the game. This put Roma back into a three-goal comeback position.
Not much Milner could've done on this one. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/3K2ZY8cXwe
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 2, 2018
Liverpool regained the lead to 7-3 on aggregate with Giorgio Wiljanldum’s goal in the 25th minute. Wijnaldum made history as this goal was his first ever away goal with an English club.
It took him 65 games to reach that mark. He also helped Liverpool make history as their 46 goals this Champions League is the most all-time in any European campaign.
Liverpool restore their 4-goal lead on aggregate thanks to this header from Wijnaldum! pic.twitter.com/vZNYmuaQav
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 2, 2018
The game kept getting weirder in the second half. After an Edin Dzeko goal, his sixth straight UCL game with a goal, another questionable missed handball call occurred in the Liverpool box. It was clearly a handball on Trent Alexander-Arnold and UEFA should really look into V.A.R. next season.
Roma left a miraculous comeback too little and too late. Radja Nainggolan scored two goals within the last few minutes to push the final aggregate tally to 7-6. Liverpool’s 5-2 win at Anfield was enough to take them to their first Champions League final since 2007.
House Liverpool are coming for the Champions League kings 👑 pic.twitter.com/S7FACzG4gE
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 2, 2018
Real Madrid v Liverpool final could be the highest scoring ever
While Real Madrid can make it four Champions League crowns in five seasons, Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool can become the first English team to win it all since Chelsea in 2012. This decade has been dominated by Ronaldo and Messi as they have combined for six of the last nine Champions League titles.
Mo Salah and the Reds could break the Spanish domination with the best-attacking line in Europe. Both teams have had defensive struggles all season. Real Madrid have had difficulty finding a suitable center-back partner for Sergio Ramos and Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren is one of the most inconsistent defenders in the world.
Next: Benzema brace sends Madrid to third straight final
This match could have goals galore. It could be the highest scoring in UCL history if both Ronaldo and Salah turn on the jets and composure in Kyiv.
The highest scoring final in Champions League history happened in 1960 when Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in Glasgow. Alfredo Di Stefano had a hat-trick and Ferenc Puskas scored four goals.