Liverpool return to Champions League final
Real Madrid set to defend crown
ROME Liverpool advanced to its first Champions League final in more than a decade despite a 4-2 loss at Roma on Wednesday.
The Reds scored two early goals and that was all they needed to advance 7-6 on aggregate after a 5-2 win in the first leg of the semifinals.
“Tonight was all about getting the job done,” said Liverpool midfielder James Milner, who scored an own goal.
“We’re through to the final now and we’ve got there by beating some very good teams along the way.”
Sadio Mane took advantage of a misplaced Roma pass to put Liverpool ahead nine minutes in and Georginio Wijnaldum restored the advantage with a header after Milner’s own goal.
Edin Dzeko equalized for Roma early in the second half and Radja Nainggolan scored two late goals for the hosts as the Giallorossi narrowly missed out on another miracle after their stunning 3-0 second-leg victory over Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
Roma were left feeling aggrieved over two penalty decisions that weren’t given.
“The VAR would have given us what was taken from us tonight,” Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco said. “That was ridiculous . ... But Liverpool certainly didn’t steal anything from us. They played 45 extraordinary minutes (in the first leg ) and we played two second halves that were just as extraordinary.”
In the May 26 final in Kyiv, Ukraine, Liverpool will face twotime defending champion Real Madrid.
Madrid beat Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate in the other semifinal.
“These fans deserve to be in the final, and they’ll have a great time in Kyiv regardless of the result,” Liverpool defender Andy Robertson said.
Liverpool last reached the final in 2007, when it lost to AC Milan, having won the last of its five titles over Milan two years earlier.
The 13 goals scored between the two legs was a record for a Champions League semifinal.
“When two squads play in an open manner like that, it’s more like a boxing match,” Di Francesco said. “There should be more matches like these.”
Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp was full of complements for Roma.
“What a performance, what a comeback. What a brave football game,” the German manager said. “It was the first time we were not as good as we can be. So we needed luck.”
When two squads play in an open manner like that, it’s more like a boxing match. There should be more matches like these.
Liverpool only reached the Champions League group stage through the final playoff round, beating Hoffenheim way back in August.
“We came in as a qualifier and now we’re in the final,” Klopp said. “Now we will go to Kyiv, which sounds crazy but is the truth.”
There were concerns of fan violence after two men from Rome were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an assault outside the stadium before the first leg in Liverpool.
Supporters of both clubs met at Rome’s City Hall earlier Wednesday to condemn violence and express solidarity with Sean Cox, the Liverpool supporter who was severely injured last week.