Champions League

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Peter Crouch scored the winner as Liverpool set up an all-English Champions League semi-final with Chelsea by beating PSV Eindhoven 1-0 in a low key encounter on Wednesday.

The Dutch side arrived at Anfield trying to create history by becoming the first team in a half century of the European Cup to overturn a 3-0 first leg deficit, and although it never looked likely their cause was not helped when Dirk Marcellis was harshly sent off in the second half as they went out 4-0 on aggregate.

Crouch scored shortly afterwards with a 67th minute volley from substitute Robbie Fowler's cut back to seal a game which was otherwise short on goal mouth action.

It was the fourth match between the teams in this season's competition with PSV failing to score in any of them.

Liverpool's next match with Chelsea is a repeat of the 2005 semi-final that Rafael Benitez's side won 1-0 on aggrtegate before going on to lift the trophy in Istanbul by beating AC Milan.

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Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi struck in the first half to give AC Milan a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday, sending the Italians through to the Champions League semi-finals 4-2 on aggregate.

Milan, who will face Manchester United in the last four, survived a tense opening period to take the lead in the 27th minute.

Bayern gave Seedorf too much time and space on the edge of the box and he was able to angle a low shot past Oliver Kahn.

The Dutch midfielder then turned provider for Milan's second. His clever backheel allowed Inzaghi to beat the offside trap and the striker lifted the ball high into the net past Kahn.

Mark van Bommel forced a sharp save from Dida with a long-range strike in the second half but otherwise Milan, the six-times European champions, held on comfortably against a Bayern side short of ideas.

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Collated results of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, second leg matches:

At Liverpool

Liverpool 1 PSV Eindhoven 0

(Liverpool win 4-0 on aggregate)

Scorer: Peter Crouch 67

Red Card: Dirk Marcellis (PSV Eindhoven) 64

Halftime: 0-0; Att: 41,447

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

- - - -

At Munich

Bayern Munich 0 AC Milan 2

(AC Milan win 4-2 on aggregate)

Scorers: Clarence Seedorf 27, Filippo Inzaghi 31

Halftime: 0-2; Att: 66,000

Referee: Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain)

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Rafa Benitez has started the psychological war ahead of Liverpool's Champions League grudge match against Chelsea by claiming Jose Mourinho is only friends with managers he does not fear.

Benitez's side set up a semi-final meeting of the increasingly bitter rivals by completing a 4-0 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven in the last eight.

Liverpool had done the hard work in the Netherlands a week ago and Peter Crouch's second half goal, moments after PSV's Dirk Marcellis was sent off, clinched a low-key 1-0 victory in Wednesday's second leg at Anfield.

But Benitez has already turned his attention to Chelsea manager Mourinho, who stands between him and a second Champions League final in three seasons. The feud between two bosses who are anything but close friends will hardly have been helped by Benitez's surprisingly personal comments about Mourinho.

The Portuguese coach has riled Benitez on several occasions as their teams have fought it out in the games's grandest occasions.

Mourinho took first blood when Chelsea won 3-2 in the 2005 League Cup final, but Benitez exacted revenge a few months later as Luis Garcia's controversial goal enabled the Reds to eliminate Chelsea from the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

Garcia's goal at Anfield still rankles with Mourinho, who claims the ball never crossed the line. Liverpool followed that success by dumping Chelsea out of the FA Cup semi-finals last season and Benitez believes those results are at the root of the animosity.

"We were good friends until we start beating them. Then that changed his mind," Benitez said of his Chelsea counterpart. "But it is the same with all the managers of the top sides.

"He has very good relationships with the managers of teams that normally he beats. When he starts fighting with managers of top sides it is normal."

Liverpool have the advantage of playing the return at Anfield on May 1 after the first leg in London on April 25.

But familiarity has bred contempt between these contrasting managers and Benitez was happy to put pressure on Mourinho by insisting Chelsea's huge transfer investment means they must win several trophies or else the campaign will be a failure.

"We know Chelsea are a good team. In the last five years they have spent big money on a lot of players and they have a very good squad," Benitez said.

"If you want to be in the finals you must have a very good squad and they have a very good squad. I think that is the reason they must be there and compete for every competition.

"We know Chelsea and they know us, but you must always have confidence as a manager and a Liverpool team should always be confident.

"We know it is a difficult team to play against. The only thing is we will play the second leg at Anfield and if you can do something at Stamford Bridge then maybe you have an advantage.

"But you saw against Valencia they are very dangerous playing counter-attacking football. I think it will be difficult for both of us."

Liverpool were in cruise control for long periods against a PSV side who showed little belief that they could turn the tie around.

Italian referee Roberto Rosetti ended their slender hopes after 64 minutes when he showed Marcellis a red card for a lunge at Boudewijn Zenden that was rash but hardly a serious danger.

Liverpool went for the kill straight away and got their reward in the 68th minute.

Crouch looked to have wasted the chance when he failed to connect cleanly with John Arne Riise's left-wing cross. But Robbie Fowler turned the ball back into the six yard box for Crouch to shoot past Gomes for his fifth goal in four games.

Liverpool, Chelsea and United have all made it through and it is only the third time a single country has had three clubs in the last four.

Benitez is convinced the Premiership is now the best league in Europe and PSV manager Ronald Koeman agrees.

"It's a great success for English football," Koeman said "Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have demonstrated in the last few years that they are very strong.

"They have the money but also the good players and the good coaches. Not just in the English style but also the international style. There will be at least one English team in the final and that will be great for them."

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AC Milan advanced to the semifinals of the European Champions League with a 2-0 victory at Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, and Liverpool became the third English team to reach the final four when it beat visiting PSV Eindhoven 1-0 and joined Manchester United and Chelsea.

Clarence Seedorf scored in the 27th minute, then set up Filippo Inzaghi's goal in the 31st at Munich as AC Milan advanced on 4-2 aggregate in the home-and-home, total-goals series.

"The day couldn't have gone better," Seedorf said. "We played very well defensively and we were always a threat. ... We allowed a couple of early chances but then we scored and we closed our ranks."

Bayern has won only once in 10 games against AC Milan.

"We saw tonight how strong Milan is," Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer said. "They were the better team over the two games, and they deserved to advance."

In Wednesday's other quarterfinal, Peter Crouch scored in the 67th minute as Liverpool completed a 4-0 aggregate win over PSV.

"It was a strange game," Crouch said. "All the lads were up for it, and if it had stayed at 0-0 you would have seen more urgency."

In the first leg of the semifinals, AC Milan is at Manchester United on April 24 and Liverpool is at Cheslea the following day. Second legs are the following week.

Three teams from the same country have reached the semifinals of Europe's top club competition twice before: Spain's Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia in 2000, and Italy's Juventus, AC Milan and Internazionale of Milan in 2003.

Liverpool beat Chelsea in the 2005 semifinals, then rallied from a three-goal deficit to defeat AC Milan in the final.

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تيم فوتبال بايرن مونيخ چهارشنبه شب در بازي خانگي با تيم ايتاليايي "آث ميلان"، بدون حضور "علي كريمي" بازيكن ايراني خود با نتيجه ۲بر صفر شكست خورد.

تيم آث*ميلان در مرحله يك چهارم نهايي باشگاه*هاي اروپا، گل*هاي خود را در نيمه اول اين بازي درون دروازه بايرن مونيخ وارد كرد.

آث ميلان با اين پيروزي بايد در برابر تيم انگليسي "منچستريونايتد" كه شب گذشته با نتيجه ۷بر يك تيم ايتاليايي "رم" را شكست سختي داد، قرار گيرد.

در همين حال ، تيم انگليسي چلسي با پيروزي بر تيم فوتبال والنسيا اسپانيا به مرحله نيمه نهايي مسابقات فوتبال قهرماني باشگاه*هاي اروپا راه يافت.

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چهار تيم صعودكننده به مرحله نيمه نهايي مسابقات فوتبال قهرماني باشگاه*هاي اروپا حريفان خود را در اين مرحله شناختند.

منچستريونايتد ، چلسي و ليورپول انگليس به همراه تيم آث ميلان چهار تيم صعودكننده به مرحله نيمه نهايي هستند.

در مرحله نيمه نهايي اين مسابقات تيم منچستريونايتد به مصاف تيم آث ميلان ايتاليا مي*رود و دو تيم انگليسي ليورپول و چلسي مقابل هم صف آرايي خواهند كرد.

ديدار پاياني اين مسابقات در ورزشگاه شهر آتن يونان برگزار خواهدشد.

در دور برگشت از مرحله يك چهارم نهايي اين مسابقات چهارشنبه*شب تيم ليورپول با يك گل بر تيم ايندهوون هلند چيره شد و در مجموع صاحب برتري ۴بر صفر شد و تيم آث ميلان ۲بر صفر بايرن مونيخ را برد و در مجموع دو ديدار با نتيجه ۴بر ۲پيروز از زمين خارج شد.

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Wayne Rooney scored twice including a stoppage-time winner to give Manchester United a thrilling 3-2 victory over AC Milan in their Champions League semi-final, first leg on Tuesday.

Rooney pulled United back into the match when he levelled the score at 2-2 after 59 minutes and his winner gives United a narrow advantage to take into the second leg in Milan next Wednesday, although Milan will fancy their chances thanks to their two away goals.

Milan keeper Dida helped United get a dream start on his return from injury, palming a Cristiano Ronaldo header into his own net in the fifth minute, before the game swung dramatically Milan's way with two goals from fellow Brazilian Kaka.

With Kaka's goals in the bank, United looked to be out of the tie but Rooney's double has set up what should be a pulsating decider at the San Siro next Wednesday.

The winners will face either Liverpool or Chelsea in the final in Athens on May 23.

A beaming Uniited manager Alex Ferguson told ITV Sport moments after the game: "I thought we played some fantastic football and dominated the game.

"The equaliser gave us the incentive to go on and win it and the late goal gives us a magnificent chance of winning the tie now."

Rooney's goals turned around a game in which Kaka had ruthlessly exposed the weaknesses of United's makeshift rearguard, with the hosts' defenders literally falling over each other as he scored his second.

United, out to avenge consecutive 1-0 defeats by Milan in the 2005 knockout round, had to field a patched-up defence after injuries to Rio Ferdinand, skipper Gary Neville, Mikael Silvestre, Nemanja Vidic and midfielder-turned-defender Kieran Richardson.

It mattered little in the opening exchanges, with United drawing first blood when Cristiano Ronaldo met a Ryan Giggs corner with a header that Dida parried upwards and then flapped into his own net under pressure from Gabriel Heinze.

United's Argentine defender was less lucky soon afterwards, though, when he failed to prevent Kaka from latching on to Clarence Seedorf's through-ball and rifling a low left-foot shot past Edwin van der Sar.

GETTING WORSE

Though United replied with plenty of pressure and a stinging shot from Ronaldo which Dida could only parry, their night went from bad to worse in the 37th minute.

Kaka surged forward on a solo run, outmanouevring Darren Fletcher and then dodged the luckless Heinze, who was promptly flattened by the inrushing Patrice Evra to leave both United men in a heap.

The fiasco left Kaka completely alone to sweep the ball past a helpless Van der Sar from close range.

Kaka, already the Champions League's top scorer this season, took his tally to nine and left United facing their first home defeat since a Premier League loss to Arsenal in September.

To complete a miserable half for United's back four, left-back Evra marked his return from injury with a yellow card for dissent that rules him out of the second leg at San Siro next Wednesday.

United needed to get back into the game quickly and a chance duly fell within minutes of the re-start, only for midfielder Michael Carrick to somehow fire wide at the far post following a corner.

Punishment could have been swift, with Kaka having two quick chances to reach his hat-trick.

CLEVER BALL

Instead, the pendululm swung back United's way when Paul Scholes lifted a clever ball over the top of Milan's defence and Rooney was able to chest it down before beating Dida from close range.

The goal galvanised a packed Old Trafford and United quickly moved up a gear, with only a fantastic save by Dida denying a Fletcher piledriver.

Ronaldo, fresh from winning two domestic Player of the Year awards, nearly won it for United in the closing stages with sizzling low shot that flew just wide of the post.

However, that distinction fell to Rooney as he collected a Giggs pass on the break and steered a low shot past Dida to send Old Trafford into ecstasy.

[Rasputin]

Man Utd 3-2 AC Milan

Wayne Rooney's stunning last-minute winner kept Manchester United's hopes of reaching the Champions League final alive after an Old Trafford classic.

Cristiano Ronaldo's fifth-minute header put United in front, only for AC Milan to draw level through Kaka's angled drive after 21 minutes.

Kaka put Milan ahead from close range before the interval, but Rooney turned in Paul Scholes' cool pass on the hour.

Rooney then lashed a glorious 20-yard finish past Dida in injury time.

It was a moment of magic that gave United a precious lead to defend going into the second leg in Milan next Wednesday.


United opened in sparkling fashion, and it took a desperate intervention from Alessandro Nesta to divert Rooney's shot over the bar.

But they were soon ahead when Ronaldo met Ryan Giggs' corner with a firm header, which Dida palmed into the air and could then only divert into the net.

United were firing on all cylinders up front - but all the time Milan, in the shape of Kaka, were waiting to probe their suspect and under-strength rearguard.

And the strike they feared came after 21 minutes when Kaka took Clarence Seedorf's pass and accelerated away from Gabriel Heinze and fired a left-foot angled drive across Edwin van der Sar.

A high-quality encounter saw Rooney just fail to get on the end of Giggs' cross and Ronaldo bring a crucial block from Dida with a 25-yard power drive.

But Brazilian superstar Kaka was an ever-present threat, and he took advantage of shambolic United defending to grab a crucial second away goal for Milan after 36 minutes.

Kaka chased a long pass, and when Heinze and Patrice Evra collided, he moved smoothly into top gear to slide a perfect finish past Van der Sar.

Evra was then booked for dissent - a yellow card that rules him out of the second leg at the San Siro, an inconvenience United did not need given their lack of defensive resources.

Michael Carrick wasted a glorious opportunity to put United level after 47 minutes when he side-footed wide of an open goal when he arrived unmarked at the far post on the end of another dangerous Giggs corner.

Milan lost captain Paolo Maldini to a knee injury at half-time, then were robbed of Gennaro Gattuso with a knee problem - with the combative midfield man being replaced by Cristian Brocchi.

Kaka was giving a master-class, escaping the offside trap to shoot across the face of goal then playing a sumptuous one-two with Seedorf only to volley narrowly over.

United desperately needed inspiration, and a moment of genius from Scholes provided it as they drew level after 59 minutes.

Scholes instinctively lifted the ball into the path of Rooney, whose finish was half-stopped by Dida but rolled in.

United were suddenly buoyant again, and the unpredictable Dida saved brilliantly from Darren Fletcher after Rooney's cross was headed into his path.

Fletcher forced Dida into a save at his near post as United pressed for what would be a crucial lead to take to Italy.

Dida then finger-tipped Ronaldo's dipping drive inches wide as United mounted a spell of sustained pressure in the closing stages.

United's sheer courage was rewarded when Rooney ran on to Giggs' pass and fired past a startled Dida to send Old Trafford wild in celebration.



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Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Brown, Heinze, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Smith, Solskjaer, Dong, Richardson, Eagles, Lee.

Booked: Evra, Giggs.

Goals: Ronaldo 6, Rooney 59, 90.

AC Milan: Dida, Oddo, Nesta, Maldini (Bonera 46), Jankulovski, Gattuso (Brocchi 52), Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Kaka, Gilardino (Gourcuff 84).
Subs Not Used: Kalac, Cafu, Inzaghi, Favalli.

Booked: Kaka, Bonera.

Goals: Kaka 22, 37.

Att: 73,820

Ref: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).

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Joe Cole scored in the 29th minute to give Chelsea a 1-0 win over Liverpool on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals.

Cole knocked in a cross from Didier Drogba. Ricardo Carvalho gathered the ball in his own half and passed to Drogba on the right. The Ivory Coast striker raced ahead and shook off Daniel Agger before rolling the ball across the penalty area for Cole.

"The first-half performance was superb and we had five or six great chances to score," Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said. "The second half was different. Liverpool attacked more."

The second leg will be Tuesday at Anfield.

"We will have the support of our people," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. "They know they are really important for us, and I hope we will feel the atmosphere behind us."

Chelsea is trying to win four major trophies this season. The two-time defending Premier League champions already have won the League Cup and trail Manchester United by three points in the English league, with a game at Stamford Bridge on May 9 to come.

The goal was Chelsea's first against Liverpool in the Champions League. Last year in the group stage, the teams played to a pair of 0-0 ties. The year before in the semifinals, they played to another 0-0 tie in the first leg. Liverpool then won 1-0 in the second leg at Anfield to reach the final, where the five-time champions beat AC Milan on penalties.

Cole's goal was only his second for Chelsea this season. The attacking midfielder, who returned this month after a four-week absence with a broken foot, also scored in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Blackburn in the League Cup in October.

Frank Lampard had a chance to give Chelsea the lead in the eighth minute at Stamford Bridge, but Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina made a good save. A minute later, Andriy Shevchenko curled a shot over the bar.

"The first half we were not controlling. The second was a little better," Benitez said. "We gave them chances on the counter attack. We were giving the ball away."

Dirk Kuyt had Liverpool's best chance in the first half with a 22nd-minute header that was saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech. Kuyt had another header in the 50th.

Steven Gerrard then sent a hard shot on Chelsea's goal in the 53rd. John Arne Riise's long throw-in into the area from the left was headed away by John Obi Mikel, but Gerrard got the ball and Cech made the save.

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch entered as a substitute a minute earlier, and his presence immediately invigorated the Liverpool attack.

Lampard had another chance in the 81st, but his hard shot from the left was saved by Reina

Both teams had one last good chance in injury time. Agger first sent a long, hard shot that Cech saved, and Drogba headed wide a minute later off Lampard's cross.

Man United, which beat AC Milan 3-2 in Tuesday's other Champions League semifinal, will face Chelsea in the English FA Cup final May 19. They could then meet again in the Champions League final on May 23 in Athens, Greece.

Man United got two goals from Wayne Rooney and another from Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford. Kaka scored both goals for Milan, a six-time European Cup champion. The second leg is next Wednesday at Milan.

[Rasputin]

Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

Joe Cole's first-half goal gave Chelsea a narrow victory in their Champions League semi-final first-leg clash with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Cole slid in Didier Drogba's cross after 29 minutes to give Jose Mourinho's side the upper hand.

Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina produced two brilliant saves from Frank Lampard to keep the tie in the balance.

Petr Cech denied Liverpool an away goal with a stunning second-half stop from Steven Gerrard's long-range volley.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez surprisingly selected Bolo Zenden on the left flank and opted for Javier Mascherano instead of Momo Sissoko in the middle of midfield.

As for Chelsea, they gave a start to Joe Cole - and he proved an influential figure as the home side dominated the opening half.

Reina was called into action as earlier as the seventh minute, producing a marvellous reaction save to deny Lampard from 10 yards out after the midfielder had run on to Drogba's knock-down.

Drogba then failed to find Joe Cole when he was unmarked in the area and also missed out as he tried to get his own header on target under pressure from Reina.

Chelsea's pressure looked certain to pay off - and they eventually took the lead just before the half-hour mark.

Ricardo Carvalho's pass out of defence found Drogba, who turned Daniel Agger before providing a perfect cross for Cole to slide in from close range.

Liverpool's attacking responses had been fitful, limited to a tame header from Gerrard as he rose to meet Dirk Kuyt's cross.

And it was no surprise when a disappointing Craig Bellamy was replaced by Peter Crouch after 51 minutes.

The England frontman almost had an instant impact, challenging for a throw that fell for Gerrard, whose left-foot volley produced a brilliant save from Cech diving to his left.

Liverpool penned Chelsea back for long periods after the break but were unable to create any clear-cut chances.

Instead it was Reina who had to be alert, keeping out Drogba's shot at his near post.

With the tension rising in the closing stages, Drogba headed just wide after getting on the end of Lampard's free-kick.

Reina then produced a brilliant save to ensure Liverpool remained only a goal behind, diving to his left to palm away a powerful, rising drive from Lampard.



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Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Makelele, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 84), Mikel, Lampard, Shevchenko (Kalou 76), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz, Geremi, Bridge, Diarra.

Goals: Joe Cole 29.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso (Pennant 83), Mascherano, Zenden, Kuyt, Bellamy (Crouch 52).
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Sissoko, Paletta.

Booked: Mascherano.

Att: 39,483

Ref: Markus Merk (Germany).

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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has stoked his feud with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semifinal second leg at Anfield.

Benitez claimed Mourinho already has lost the English Premiership title because he rested key players on the weekend, when Chelsea drew against Bolton and fell five points behind Manchester United with three matches to play.

"It has cost him the league title," Benitez said.

And that, believes Benitez, will make the pressure-cooker atmosphere even more difficult for Mourinho to handle, with Chelsea holding a 1-0 lead after the first leg.

"Chelsea know the pressure they have," Benitez said. "I do not need to put them under more pressure because they know full well what pressure they are under to win things. They try to win everything - that is enough pressure without me saying anything.

"You only have to ask (Chelsea owner) Roman Abramovich what he wants, the Champions League or the Premier League. They know. It is clear they will be under pressure because they were talking about trophies, trophies, trophies. Maybe they have one fewer to win now and that makes the Champions League their priority."

Benitez also knows that playing on the road will place more pressure on Chelsea.

"They will know that Anfield is a difficult place for them," he said. "I know they can say it is not a problem and they have experienced it before, but we know it will be a problem for them.

"They are a team which has been built with a lot of money to win major trophies. They spent a lot of money on (Andriy) Shevchenko and (Michael) Ballack last year because their priority is the Champions League. Now they have more difficulties in the Premiership, it's clear if they're going to win a major trophy, this is the one they want to win."

Mourinho dismissed claims that Chelsea would be intimidated by Anfield.

"A great atmosphere supporting the home team is always good for the home team," he said. "A hostile one for the away team can depend on the players' character. But at this level, a hostile atmosphere can be a good motivation for people with a lot of experience."

Chelsea also likely will be without injured key defender Ricardo Carvalho.

The other semifinal second leg tips Wednesday, with Manchester United taking a 3-2 advantage to the San Siro against AC Milan. It is a threshold moment for United midfielder Paul Scholes, who does not want to miss a second Champions League final.

Eight years ago, Scholes was sitting in the Nou Camp stands on the night United knocked off Bayern Munich, a victim of a needless booking for dissent in the semifinal win over Juventus.

He heads to Milan again walking a disciplinary tightrope, knowing a yellow card will prevent him from appearing on the greatest stage the European game has to offer.

"I won't let the bookings situation bother me," he said. "It is just another game to and another chance to get to a Champions League final. I don't think of it being more important to get through because of what happened to me last time.

"It is a major tournament, one that every team in Europe wants to be involved in. We all want to get there and we all want to win it if we do."

Scholes is not the type to make bold statements about what the Red Devils will achieve but does recognize a couple of positive signs.

Seven of the 11 that started when United was beaten by Milan in the first knockout round two years ago are likely to be on Sir Alex Ferguson's side. As well as Scholes and fellow veteran Ryan Giggs, that number includes star youngsters Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

While a repeat of the 1-0 defeat United suffered on that occasion would see Milan through, Scholes is hopeful of a more positive outcome.

"It will help having been there before," he said. "We know what we are facing. What happened a couple of years ago was a big disappointment. But the likes of Ronaldo and Rooney are a couple of years older now."

Brazil playmaker Kaka has demanded AC Milan repeat its first-half showing at Old Trafford for the full 90 minutes.

His two goals canceled out Ronaldo's early header. But United stormed back after the interval and Rooney's two goals - the second in injury time - turned around the match.

"You only beat Manchester United if you play as we did in the opening half at Old Trafford," Kaka said. "We have to show character, personality and have confidence. Manchester United are a strong team, they have a fast counterattack, they have strikers that make great moves up front. On top of that, they are a young side."

[Rasputin]

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (agg 1-1)

Liverpool reach final on penalties


'You'll Never Walk Alone' rings out as a smiling Rafael Benitez goes round his team to congratulate them on reaching a second Champions League final in three years. For Chelsea it is a third semi-final loss in the competition in the last four years.

A hug between skippers Steven Gerrard and John Terry. There are grim faces in the Chelsea camp and tears among their supporters in the stands. For them it is all about the FA Cup now.

Dirk Kuyt is submerged as the party starts at Anfield.

"A fantastic penalty to finish it off."

[abadani69]

Liverpool's Jose Reina stopped Chelsea from moving into the Champions League final.

Reina made two saves in the penalty round Tuesday, lifting Liverpool into the championship of European club soccer.

The second leg at Anfield ended 1-0 after Liverpool's defender Daniel Agger produced the game's only goal in the 22nd minute.

With the semifinal level at 1-1 on aggregate following extra time, Liverpool won 4-1 on penalties, advancing to the final for the second time in three years.

Bolo Zenden, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt all scored from the spot while Arjen Robben and Geremi saw their efforts denied by Reina, sending Liverpool on and delighting the home fans.

"I could not have asked for more," Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said. "It was very hard, they have some great attacking players and it was hard to keep them under control and keep a clean sheet. But we did that, we played with great passion and skill, and our fans helped us through."

In the final at Athens, Greece on May 23, Liverpool will meet either Premiership rival Manchester United or Italian Serie A powerhouse AC Milan.

Benitez refused to fire any verbal barbs at long-time antagonist and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

"I would just prefer to enjoy this moment, to enjoy the thought of the final again and just praise my team without saying anything else," he said. "I will just enjoy this, the atmosphere was fantastic."

It was the third Champions League semifinal loss in four years for Mourinho, and perhaps this one was the toughest of all.

"As far as my management career goes, that was the most heartbreaking night," he said. "To lose a Champions League semifinal on penalties is hard to take."

After enduring a 1-0 loss at Chelsea in the first leg last week, Liverpool came out aggressively with an intent on tying the match. The early attack by the home side paid off when Agger stroked home Gerrard's clever free kick, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Continuing to press the attack early in the second half, Liverpool saw Kuyt unceremoniously dumped on the floor by Paulo Ferreira when he tried to make progress down the left side.

Moments later, Gerrard found his way blocked by Ashley Cole as he attempted to work his way into the penalty area.

Chelsea slowly began to control more possession, nearly tying the match and taking back the lead in the semifinal in the 54th minute through Frank Lampard, whose free kick sailed high.

In the 56th minute, Chelsea had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank after he pulled off a superb save at the far post. Pennant turned Claude Makelele inside out before crossing to the far post, where England striker Peter Crouch's downward header was saved by Cech's legs.

Kuyt nearly increased the lead moments later, putting a powerful header off the crossbar.

Chelsea came close to equalizing in the 75th minute when Cole got clear on the left flank and crossed into the six-yard box where Drogba somehow managed to send the ball over the crossbar.

In the 97th minute, Mourinho made his first change of the night when he replaced Joe Cole with Dutch winger Arjen Robben. Three minutes later, Kuyt was called offside when he converted the rebound after Cech had failed to hold a ferocious drive from Xabi Alonso.

"But in five, 10, 20 years, nobody will remember that Chelsea were the better team in the first leg of the semifinal and I feel deserved to win the second," Mourinho said. "Nobody will remember that Chelsea were the best team in extra time. That is the history of football."

On Wednesday, Manchester United will stick to its attacking principles regardless of the score or status of their second-leg match with Milan, manager Sir Alex Ferguson promised.

Last week, Wayne Rooney's injury-time strike gave United a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford, allowing the Red Devils to use a simple scoreless draw to seal the first all-English final.

Had it been Chelsea or Liverpool heading to Italy in such a position, the smart money would have been for them to advance on the back of a stalemate. But for United, sitting back is not an option - even if Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are declared fit.

Instead, Ferguson will place his trust in Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs to storm Milan's defenses as they did last week and return clutching a prized ticket for Athens.

"If we are realistic, we know Milan, on their own ground, will be huge favorites to score," Ferguson admitted. "We hope we can avoid that, but the safety net is to score ourselves. That is why we will have an attacking emphasis.

"I don't think sitting on the edge of our box would do me, the team or the fans any good. If we are going to do it, we will do it our way. If we are going to lose, we will do it our way. Hopefully, it will be good enough."

Although Vidic and Ferdinand are deemed fit enough to start, it would represent a huge gamble on Ferguson's part to name both his first-choice central defenders with key Premiership matches to come.

"It is a matter of how much risk we put into the game," he said. "We have decisions to make about both but it is important to speak to them and gauge their own confidence about playing. I would be delighted to play both but I don't know if that is possible."

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti stressed the importance of a win for Italy.

"We are very honored to represent Italian football in this competition and more so considering our nation are world champions," he said. "My team is a very Italian side, with an Italian soul and I believe we are best able to represent Italian football."

Ancelotti believes his team is up for the challenge. With a 1-0 win assuring a trip to the final, he is looking for more.

"If we were to concede a goal, it will be no tragedy," he said. "We have to play for 90 minutes and I believe we can score more than one goal."

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Liverpool was confident of making another trip to the Champions League final the moment the referee blew the whistle for penalty kicks.

Little could separate Liverpool and Chelsea over 120 minutes of the second leg of the home-and-home semifinal, and the hosts won 1-0 on Daniel Agger's goal in the 23rd minute.

Neither team scored during the 30 minutes of overtime, leaving the aggregate tied 1-1; Chelsea won at home 1-0 last week.

And the Reds are the Champions League's shootout specialists.

Two years ago, that's how Liverpool beat AC Milan to win its fifth European title. The team didn't disappoint at Anfield on Tuesday.

"It was very special for me. It's going to be my first final," said Dirk Kuyt, who scored the winning penalty kick.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved the first and third Chelsea penalties from Arjen Robben and Geremi.

Boudewijn Zenden, substitute Xabi Alonso and captain Steven Gerrard also converted their penalty kicks for Liverpool to win 4-1.

Only Frank Lampard hit the net for Chelsea.

"We had confidence because we had players who practice in every training session. They like to do it," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said.

In the May 23 final in Athens, Liverpool faces either Manchester United or AC Milan, which plays its second leg Wednesday. United has a 3-2 advantage from the first game, but plays at Milan.

"Just a last step, Reina said. "We must do it."

Kuyt also had a goal disallowed in the 10th minute of extra time, and his powerful shot was saved by Peter Cech with only a minute to go.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said his was the better team.

"Everybody has to try to be strong. I think they have a lot of reasons to be proud of themselves," Mourinho said. "They were the best team today ... In extra time we were the only team who tried to win, but football is like that and the penalty shootout is part of the game."

This is the third time Chelsea has lost in the Champions League semifinals. It was beaten by Liverpool in 2005 and by Monaco in 2004.

Gerrard said comments attributed to Mourinho before the game had annoyed his teammates.

"I think he was a bit disrespectful calling us a little club," Gerrard said. "Two finals in three years -- not bad for a little club."

Liverpool has won the European title five times, including the penalty-kicks victory over AC Milan two years ago after rallying from a three-goal deficit. Manchester United won in 1999 and 1968, while AC Milan has won the championship six times, the last in 2003.

With American owners George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks looking on, Liverpool got a brilliant goal from Agger. He benefited from poor marking by Chelsea on Gerrard's free kick.

Instead of sending the ball into the penalty box, Gerrard squared the free kick to Agger. The Danish defender flicked the ball with his first touch low inside Cech's right post for his first Champions League goal.