Rematch!

Liverpool vs. AC Milan in the Champions League Final to be played in Athens. This is going to be a re-match of the final two years ago, when Liverpool defied the odds and came back from an almost insurmountable 0-3 hole. Game on!

I was in my hotel room in Bergen last Tuesday night when Liverpool and Chelsea were playing the 2nd leg of their Champions League semifinal. I was very worried because Chelsea had a 1-0 lead. But it wasn't daunting, and Liverpool have come back from more difficult spots in the past than that. So needless to say my fingers were crossed...

I only caught the game in the middle of the 2nd half, and was immensely pleased that Liverpool were 1-0 up. I was even more pleased to see that Liverpool were controlling the game a lot more. But of course all that could change in a second so I remained extremely nervous.

Regular time ended in a draw on aggregate (1-1), so they had to play a half-hour's worth of extra time. Considering that the Reds had been the better team that night, and because they had home court advantage, I was very hopeful. But no more goals came, so it was now down to a penalty shoot-out. And Liverpool goalie Pepe Reina emerged the hero. With two brilliant saves, and with everyone in Liverpool finding the back of the goal, the Reds booted Chelsea out of the CL semis to book their place in the final.

And despite predictions of an all-England final, AC Milan brutalized newly crowned Premiership champions Manchester United 3-0 to win 5-3 on aggregate. Man Utd losing 0-3? That must've been some amazing display of football by the Italian team. Which proves just how hungry they are to win the Champions League this year. And with revenge against Liverpool after that 2005 heartbreaking loss on their minds, they will be even more fired up.

But then again, Liverpool have shown themselves that they want it just as much. So maybe we will have a similarly amazing Champions League final in Athens. Or maybe Liverpool will blow AC Milan away. I hope it's the latter. Tough, tense matches are so nerve-wracking to watch! =)