What makes sport such compelling drama
is the idea that at any given time anything can happen. True though
that may be, within those parameters there's enough which we can rule
out. In actuality, despite the chance for something really peculiar
to occur most of the time what we're left with is variations of the
same thing. Which is why when it does, it's magnificent.
Moments are special because of three
things. The first being most important which is the sheer levity of
what's at stake. Even a miskick can become legendary depending on
what's at stake. Next come the circumstances. What struggles did a
team or player have to come through in order to ultimately triumph;
the more dire the situation, the greater that glory. Lastly come the
idiosyncrasies. Those layers of footballing irony that always seem
to add insult to injury.
Razgrad. Unlikely to be immediately
found on a map, even if the search was limited solely to Bulgaria.
It was here that the eyes of the footballing world converged late
last night as something truly spectacular began to unfold.
Ludogorets have made waves in Bulgaria and have gone on to win the
last three domestic titles. Last year they had moderate success in
the Europa League, dropping only two points in the group stage before
knocking out Lazio and then eventually losing to Valencia. They
have acquired a taste for continental success and now they're dining
at the top table.
Wednesday 9th December 2009.
The last time Liverpool took part in a Champions League game. A
club plagued by instability from top to bottom and a dark notion that
it would be a lot longer to ever get back. That nightmare is now over. It will end as the operatic chords of that theme music that we've all longed to hear herald them onto the field..
In getting back there we are reminded of how special this competition
is – the 2005 final holds a special place in the heart of everyone
– and a much greater appreciation for the taking part.
Their opponents were Steaua Bucharest,
who must even now not quite know what happened. Having won the first
leg by a goal to nil, a fairly uneventful ninety minutes looked like
it would be enough to see them safely through. A last minute goal
from Wanderson put the game into extra time. In some games, an
equaliser in such dramatic fashion would grab all the headlines. Not
this one.
It wouldn't be until the last minute of
extra time when the game would completely turn on it's head. With
the penalty shoot out looking all but a certainty, suddenly the ball
broke to Bucharest's Fernando Varela who found himself in on goal.
In a heartbeat he was confronted by both a struggling defender and
onrushing goalkeeper, both absolutely desperate for the Cape Verdean
striker not to end the game there and then.
Stoyanov in goal it was who eventually
felled Varela, only to then realize what the consequences were. A
red card was produced and because Ludogorets had made all three
substitutions there was no chance of bringing on anyone to replace
him. One of the ten remaining outfield players was going to have to
take his gloves. Cosmin Moti was the man who stepped up. A
Romanian, signed from Steaua's most fierce rivals Dinamo Bucharest.
Back in Bulgaria, the last few moments
were a blur. Steaua tried to snatch the game. A free kick was put
over for a corner, which itself was punched clear. The final whistle
quickly followed. The psychology of a penalty shoot out is such that
nothing is ever expected of the goalkeeper and this applied to Moti a
thousand times over. If he got his hands to any of them, it would be
more than enough of an effort.
If there was one thing that was
necessary, it was for his team mates to play their part. No amount
of heroics in between the posts could save Ludogrets if they
themselves didn't convert. To add even further suspense to a game
that needed no more, Wanderson who had done so well to put the game
into extra time saw his tame penalty saved by Arlauskis in the Steaua
goal. Moti made immediate amends for this miss by denying the very
next spot kick.
At this point, there was only one way
this story was going to end. Even if it doesn't exist, the idea of
fate plays with players minds. It should have been easier for Steaua
to score but it never felt like that. Destiny will make someone
better than they ever thought possible or shrink their ability to the
point where it doesn't even matter. Jerzy Dudek and Shevchenko had
one such moment almost a decade ago now.
After five, the teams were still
locked. Now we were at the point where one miss and it could all be
over. A sixty penalty either way could not separate them. Fabio
Espinho scored for Ludo and the eyes of the footballing world watched
as Cornel Rapa strode up to face Moti who dived hard to his right and
caught it. Never again will a outfield player draw so many plaudits
for catching a football.
Tonight's meeting at Anfield represents
a point in time for both teams. A clash of two sides who are simply
relishing the prospect of facing each other. For Liverpool it is a
return to the stage where they feel most at home. Where the things
transpire mean all that much more. Our Bulgarian opponents may be
new to this stage but for it is a joy and a privilege to share this
spotlight with them. Though the two events have no bearing over one
another, what happened to Ludogorets was very similar to that which
transpired at the Attaturk. To host them is like kharmic kinship. We
take to the field tonight, filled with pride and buoyed by the
prospect of a brighter future knowing full well that as far as
Liverpool are concerned, in the European Cup anything is possible.
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