Writer Daniel Taylor stated that “The thing about Torres is that he can make opponents feel old and spectators feel young, and this was another sublime goal to add to his collection”, which in to a certain extend, to any extend is amazingly correct. And that were the goals that made a difference in the Champions League game between Inter Milan and Liverpool. A 2 goal cushion might be easy to bring with, but difficult to maintain, what more with 60odd thousand fans shrieking against you and some very notable star players like Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Julio Cesar in goal to play against. Highlight of the night perhaps came from the Internazionale’s fans who put up a banner which wrote “whatever happens, Thank you” a note of appreciation for beating bitter rivals and neighbor AC Milan 3 years ago in Istanbul, that which what happened last year, has since been forgotten. The game was to be a huge, huge affair and from kick off, there were tackles and shots and have beens and almosts… yet, nothing counted. And for most part of the game, Liverpool seemed to be playing on the counter attack, with nothing much to show through the often proven wingers like Ryan Babel and peculiarly Dirk Kuyt on the right. Inter on the other hand looked more formidable and more likely to score, but failed to connect any incoming passes from all sides. On a night when Sami Hyppia dealt with the pressure, rising to the occasion with what has made him such a scary figure in defence, and Carragher, the ever consistent full back who made numerous attempts to block out any threat including going forward at times to support Kuyt that piled the pressure as the game went on. This would not be something that is easy to swallow. It was the plain reality that eventually prompted Inter coach to announce that he will be leaving the club when the season ends. This is the type of defeat that leaves one dumbfounded. This is the type of defeat where one cannot deny that the better team won. Of course some of it contributed largely to luck, or the lack of it as in the 50th minute, Nicolas Burdisso was sent off for a second yellow card, a plain mirror incident of the first leg which prompted Liverpool to up the ante. But it will not be an easy feat for the Reds, who after the sending off find that Inter showed more urgency than before, which by this time it was getting harder and harder for the Italian outfit. Only when it matters, and when the home side began to tire that Torres found an inviting cross from Fabio Aurelio from the left, hit it down, side stepped his marker took a low shot towards goal, and in within split seconds, as if the genius knew that it was going in, ran off with captain Steven Gerrard in celebration. To come back from that, it would have to be remarkable, yet Inter fought on but with no avail for the 4 goals that they have to score in order to force a tie. Playing with 10 men, 4 goals to score, and time ticking off, it would all be over very soon, and it did. The Kops did it again, overcoming superior opponents, and in the process overcoming some odds to make it through, as the fourth English team to qualify, the second English team to win in San Siro, and the same team that killed the ghost of 1965. whoever they meet now need not matter, as so often the world has seen, Liverpool puts in the magic in these competitions, and without them, there usually is none.
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