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Liverpool 1 - 1 Atletico
Ed Colenutt, November 4th 2008
A last-gasp Steven Gerrard penalty saw Liverpool edge closer to
the Champions League knockout stages with a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
The Reds skipper kept his cool to send Atletico keeper Leo Franco the wrong way and cancel out Maxi Rodriguez's first-half opener with only seconds left on the clock.
It means a win in either of their final two group games will see Liverpool through to the last 16 of the competition.
The game kicked off at a frantic pace, and it was the Reds who almost drew first blood after just three minutes.
A corner from the right caused problems for the Atletico defence and just as Daniel Agger looked ready to bury the ball he was brought down. The young Dane raised his arms to appeal for the spot-kick but the referee waved away his protests and play continued.
The visitors were left counting their blessing again on 14 minutes when Robbie Keane took down an inch perfect Xabi Alonso ball on his chest only to see his volley go inches to the wrong side of the post.
The let-off seemed to fire Atletico into action and they came close to taking the lead themselves four minutes later but Simao Sabrosa blazed over from six yards when it appeared easier to score than miss.
With the play moving from end to end with speed and both sides pushing men forward, it seemed a goal would arrive sooner rather than later.
Keane had a glorious chance to give his side the lead on 33 minutes when he raced onto Jamie Carragher's pass and tried to round the keeper, but in doing so forced himself too wide.
Liverpool were left to rue the missed opportunity, as the away side broke down the right five minutes later and snatched a surprise lead through Maxi Rodriguez.
Despite playing well from the restart, Liverpool were left with it all to do in the second half as they failed to find an equaliser before the half time whistle went.
The Reds again started the brighter of the two teams after the break, but as the half wore on frustrations grew with the home side still unable to make the breakthrough their play deserved.
The referee certainly didn’t help matters when he again refused to point to the spot after Paulo Assuncao appeared to handle under pressure from Keane.
Then Agger was left punching the net on 56 minutes after he beat Franco to Fabio Aurelio's free-kick only to see his header bounce narrowly the wrong side of the crossbar.
A goal seemed in the offing and it was the Danish centre back again who came close when he met Kuyt's deflected knock down on the turn from close range. Anywhere else and it would have been a goal, but unfortunately the shot was driven direct at Franco, who smothered the ball.
Next up was Gerrard, the skipper’s shot going narrowly over after a lovely exchange of passes with Keane.
The game was now one way traffic, the ten man attack of Liverpool against the ten man defence of Atletico, but for all their dominance it appeared it just wasn’t to be Liverpool’s day as the final whistle approached.
If there’s one thing the season so far has shown us though it’s that you can never write off the Reds. And with seconds left on the clock Gerrard duly delivered, the skipper went down in the box before picking himself up and firing home the resulting spot kick. The goal time stood at 95 minutes and seconds later the full time whistle was blown, Liverpool once again having salvaged something at the death, though this time there could be no arguments that it was richly deserved.
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