| The main photo above shows Vladimir coming face to face with Milan
legend Paolo Maldidni during the 2005 Champions League final. Smicer had
a huge impact on the game after entering the fray as a 23rd minute
replacement for the injured Harry Kewell. Firstly he fired home
Liverpool's second goal in the 56th minute to bring them right back into
contention and he then held his nerve superbly to slot home Liverpool's
fourth penalty. That put the Reds 3-2 ahead and when Jerzy Dudek saved
Andrei Shevchenko's spot-kick the incredible comeback was complete.
|
LIVERPOOL 3:3 AC MILAN (0:3) - Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties Instanbul, 25 May 2005, att 65,000)
.
Liverpool: Jerzy Dudek, Steve Finnan (Dietmar Hamann 46), Djimi Traore, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher,
John Arne Riise, Steven Gerrard, Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso, Harry Kewell (Vladimir Smicer 23), Milan Baros (Djibril Cisse 85)
.
AC Milan: Dida, Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso (Rui Costa 112),
Clarence Seedorf (Serginho 86), Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko, Hernanr Crespo (Jon Dahl Tomasson 85)
0:1 Maldini (1), 0:2 Crespo (39), 0:3 Crespo (44), 1:3 Gerrard (54),
2:3 Smicer (56), 3:3 Alonso (59)
Penalties: Serginho (missed), Dietmar Hamann (scored), Andrea Pirlo (saved), Djibril Cisse (scored),
Jon Dahl Tomasson (scored), John Arne Riise (saved), Kaka (scored), Vladimir Smicer (scored), Andriy Shevchenko (saved)
Referee - Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain)
Booked - Carragher, Baros