Final insult on night of pain

May 24 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

Jermaine Pennant and Steven Gerrard each had opportunities which might have altered the outcome of their seventh European Cup Final.

Not golden chances. Not openings they will endure sleepless nights worrying about.

But chances nonetheless.

Only nine and a half minutes had elapsed when Pennant pounced onto Jankulowski’s loose clearance. The ball ran loose to Gerrard who returned it to the now inrushing winger.

The angle was sharp, although not prohibitive – but Pennant’s low drive lacked the devil to slip past Dida.

Then with the game 62 minutes old and Liverpool by now trailing, Gerrard found himself on the end of a similar opening. Same distance from goal, same tight angle – but again the finish lacked the devil to beat Dida.

As their manager is so fond of saying, the answer is in the small detail. These were details with monumental consequences.

So, too, was the decisive first goal –- a Greek tragedy, both in conception and execution.

Jamie Carragher miscontrolled, committing Xabi Alonso into a challenge he didn’t need to make. Kaka tumbled and referee Herbert Fandel awarded a free-kick just yards outside the penalty area. Andrea Pirlo struck the free-kick true, but it was heading directly towards the area of goal policed by Pepe Reina, until it struck Filipo Inzaghi on the chest and changed direction fatefully.

Of course Liverpool had been in this territory before – and half-time saw another rousing chorus of “Walk On” from the Red end of the stadium.

But while we hoped they had been unhinged by their Istanbul experience, Milan had been psychologically hardened.

They dug in, especially during a solid second half spell when Liverpool set about them – and eight minutes from the end the little genius that is Kaka produced the pass which ended the contest.