Reds’ early goals create date with Real
Liverpool reaches final for first time in 11 years with 7-6 aggregate win
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.
In the May 26 final in Kyiv, Ukraine, Liverpool will face two-time defending champion Real Madrid.
Madrid beat Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate in the other semifinal.
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.
There were concerns of fan violence surrounding the match after two men from Rome were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an assault outside the stadium before the first leg in Liverpool.
Inside the stadium, fans of both sides lit flares in the stands before kickoff. It was so loud at one point that the Champions League anthem couldn’t be heard.
With Liverpool advancing and Roma winning the match, both sets of fans applauded their clubs at the final whistle.
Afterward, Liverpool players posed near their fans behind a banner that read, “Sean Cox: You’ll never walk alone.”
Like the first leg, Liverpool was more impressive early on before Roma asserted itself late.
Roma’s defence looked out of sorts when Nainggolan misplaced a pass early on and Roberto Firmino set up Mane for an unchallenged goal — the first that Roma has conceded at home in this season’s Champions League.
Roma equalized six minutes later when Dejan Lovren’s attempt to clear an effort from Stephan El Shaarawy ricocheted off teammate James Milner’s face back into his own goal. Ten minutes later, Edin Dzeko’s attempt to head away a Liverpool corner went backwards instead toward Wijnaldum, who nodded it in.
El Shaarawy’s curling effort on Roma’s second goal was batted away by goalkeeper Loris Karius, but the rebound was corralled by Dzeko who potted his eighth goal in 12 matches.
Nainggolan then put his team ahead on the night with a shot off the post in the 86th for his first goal in 24 Champions League appearances.In added time, Nainggolan converted a penalty following a handball by Ragnar Klavan.