SIMAO SABROSA

vs Liverpool, Champions League, 2006

With a deal agreed, Simao Sabrosa said his farewells at Benfica to embark on a new adventure at Liverpool in the summer of 2005.

He was soon back in the adoring arms of Benfiquistas, though, after a disagreement between the two clubs over the transfer fee deprived the Premier League of one of Portugal’s trickiest customers.

It wasn’t long before the former Barcelona winger was dazzling at Anfield – but not in the way Rafael Benitez had planned. Barely six months later, a Simao stunner caused a major Champions League upset. Liverpool were the holders and favourites to beat Ronald Koeman’s Benfica in the last 16, despite losing the first leg 1-0 in Lisbon.

“Going to Anfield, nobody thought we had a chance, but we knew we could bring them back down to Earth,” Simao tells FFT. “Peter Crouch had chances to score early on, and when he missed those we started to play.

“Nuno Gomes gave me the ball, but it was what he did afterwardsafter that allowed the goal to happen. He was one of the best in the world at creating space for others.

“Him moving behind me created space to shoot, and I cut inside and hit it past [Pepe] Reina. I knew Reina from Barcelona,Barcelona and afterwards he said that he knew where I was going to put it before I hit it,it but that it was impossible to stop.”

Simao’s thunderbolt in front of the Kop was the crucial away goal, and there was no way back for the home side.

Liverpool came in for Simao again the following summer, but with Benfica looking in fine fettle, he chose to stay put.

“I felt like I had to say sorry to England for several things!” he laughs, having twice scored in penalty shootout victories over the national team.

“I remember that goal like it was yesterday. It was the best goal of my career.”