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Epic drama Liverpool, Alaves produce UEFA Cup classic
Updated: Thursday May 17, 2001 3:01 PM
DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) -- Liverpool and Alaves both emerged from an epic UEFA Cup final with their reputations greatly enhanced after conspiring to produce a remarkable match that made a mockery of predictions of a cautious, defensive game. "It could be one of the most boring finals in European history," Jordi Cruyff had warned in the build up to the match, citing the ultra-defensive tactics Liverpool had used in their semifinal against Barcelona. If that was a challenge to Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier it was accepted with alacrity as the English side raced into a 2-0 lead. But Houllier accepted that a lot of the credit was down to Alaves for the way it responded to that early setback. The way the Basque side fought back to produce a breath-taking, heart-stopping final, right down to the appalling moment of bad luck that saw Delfi Geli head into his own net for a golden own-goal that handed the cup to Liverpool 5-4. "I know we are both supposed to be counter-attacking teams, but we certainly produced the goals in that game," said Houllier. "This final will be remembered for a long time and that's thanks to Alaves." Early dominance Markus Babbel headed Liverpool in front in the fourth minute and Steven Gerrard doubled the advantage on 16 minutes as he took a Michael Owen lay-off in his stride and fired in at Martin Herrera's near post. Alaves coach Mane responded by bringing on Ivan Alonso in place of defender Dan Eggen, and that daring substitution changed the game. Alonso headed home on 27 minutes and although Liverpool reestablished its two-goal lead with a penalty from man-of-the-match Gary McAllister four minutes before halftime the English side was being pressed further and further back. Javi Moreno's two goals at the start of the second half leveled the scores and even after substitute Robbie Fowler put Liverpool 4-3 ahead Alaves somehow found the physical and mental strength to force extra-time with Jordi's 89th-minute header. Each side had a goal disallowed before Geli's heart-breaking flick header passed his own keeper gave Liverpool its third trophy of the season, a third UEFA Cup win and its first continental trophy since the 1984 European Cup win against Roma. "It was a fantastic final," said Babbel, who was part of the Bayern Munich side that lost to Manchester United in another memorable European final in 1999 and must have feared history was about to repeat itself when Jordi's late equalizer went in. "It was a game of a lot of ups and downs but we had great morale and kept coming back." Jordi congratulations Jordi congratulated Liverpool on its third title of the year but stressed the achievement of his "little" club at giving it such a fright. "It's no coincidence that Liverpool have won the treble this season," said the former Manchester United midfielder. "We just have to lick our wounds but for a little Basque club to come to the UEFA Cup final makes me extremely proud." For Houllier, victory proved once again the importance of substitutes after the match-winning contributions of his trio of replacements, Patrick Berger, Fowler and McAllister, in Saturday's FA Cup final over Arsenal. Against Alaves, it was Fowler, Berger and Vladimir Smicer, who won the free kick that led to the Geli own goal on 117 minutes, who came off the bench to help settle the match. "I'd told Robbie that he was going to score," said Houllier. "Berger also gave us freshness and I felt we could score going into extra-time with three new attacking players. "It really is a game of 14 now, not 11." Houllier admitted, however, that despite the outcome he still had reservations about the way the match was decided. "The irony is that whenever I'm asked I always say I'm not in favor of the golden goal," Houllier said. "I still think it is unfair but it was spectacular."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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