Science and sensibility

I usually try and avoid turning Science and Sensibilty into some inane online diary. Not because I particularity prize my privacy, rather I can't imagine there is a single person out there that wants to read what I did today or what I thought of the new Star Wars film. I am going to make a bit of exception today though.

Liverpool are the champions of Europe! I managed to find an enclave of people that where not simply football fans in a rugby mad country but Liverpool fans committed enough to see a game that kicked off at 6:45 local time. To be fair spirits where low at half time. We had played jittery soccer; Traore dove into a challenge he just didn't need to and gave away free kick that lead to a first minute goal. Garcia flubbed three shots on goal and we generally let Milan pressure us on the ball and run at us with it. It seemed like the second half would be damage control - keep the score to 3-0 and you've done alright

Then it started. Steven Gerrad pushed up to haunt behind the strikers, we started to win the 50-50 balls, our passes started opening up Milan's defence. Eventually Gerrad found some space on a cross and it was 3-1 - at least we would have something to say for our early morning and there was even a glimmer of hope. Two minutes later and Smicer, in his last ever game for Liverpool, ran on to a pass from Dietmar Hamann (an unlikely halftime substitute) and hammered a shot low and into the left corner. 3-2 and all of a sudden it was a game. More than that is was Liverpool's game, Milan couldn't do anything to stop red wave after red wave. Finally Gerrad looked through on the goalie when he was brought down. His effort earned Xabi Alonso a spot kick to bring what had seemed a lost cause back to a tie. His shot was saved but he was first to the rebound and we were back on level terms with half an hour of regulation time to play. In ten minutes the pub had gone from depression at a hammering in the biggest club competition in the world to elation at one of the greatest comebacks that competition had seen.

Then the tension set in. Milan recovered from the onslaught and the game got tight again. The 90 minutes passed with the scores locked and we went onto extra-time. Gerrad came back to sit in front of the defence. He was a dominant force, chasing down runner after runner and securing the ball for Liverpool. Charragher was immense in the back - keeping a cool head as he cut down attacks and intercepted passes. But the real star was Jerzy Dudek. As the game's final extra-time period drew to an end he made one of the most remarkable saves I've ever seen. Having parried a shot he found himself lying prone on the ground as Andriy Shevchenko appeared to head the match winner home. Dudek acting on reflexes alone manage to get a hand to the ball from the ground and sent it flying over the bar.

It was penalties to decide it and Dudek ensured he will never have to buy a drink in Liverpool again. As Serginho lined up the first kick of the shoot out Dudek danced on the goaline, doing star jumps and bounding a foot either site of the middle of the goal. The shot flew over the left corner. He saved the next one with similar antics. After four penalties from each side Liverpool where up 3-2 leaving Andriy Shevchenko having to score for Milan to stay in it. More dancing from Dudek and a save - Liverpool had won it from 3-0 down! Men hugged men and jumped for joy. And as the chaos faded a little a slightly circumspect (we are after all still New Zealanders) chorus raised up - "You'll never walk alone"