Liverpool vs. PSG - Match Report
This year's Champions League final is between Barclays Premier League third-place runners-up Liverpool and Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool Starting XI
Begovic, Manquillo, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Gerrard, Allen, Balotelli, Sterling, Sturridge
Paris Saint-Germain Starting XI
Sirigu, Rafinha, Silva, David Luiz, Digne, Chantome, Pastore, Verratti, Matuidi, Lavezzi, Ibrahivmovic
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0' - And now this year's Champions League final has begun, live from the Olympastadion in Germany on this cold, wet evening!
3' - Sturridge bursts down the left wing, but is tackled by Rafinha, who knocks the ball out into touch. Moreno quickly then throws the ball to Sturridge, who passes back to Moreno, who then crosses to Henderson, who stalls against Marco Verratti for a few seconds, before crosisng it back to Daniel Sturridge, who shoots but barely hits the side netting.
5' - GOAL! Javi Manquillo throws the ball in towards Jordan Henderson, who passes it to Steven Gerrard, who uses his great vision to pick out Mario Balotelli in some space in the box. Balotelli collects the ball and passes it along the goalface, whilst distracting Salvatore Sirigu, before Sturridge taps it into the net as Sirigu barely has time to react.
10' - Joe Allen dribbles the ball past the halfway line, before crossing over to Javi Manquillo on the right wing, who immediately crosses it down to Mario Balotelli barely outside the box, who then knocks to Raheem Sterling, before it's played back to Balotelli, who smashes the ball straight towards the net, but his shot is parried by Salvatore Sirigu.
25' - Zlatan Ibrahimovic takes the ball into touch and dodges a tackle from Martin Skrtel, before crossing to Ezequiel Lavezzi, who passes it backwards to Lucas Digne, who crosses the ball into the box, looking for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but instead the ball meets the fist of Asmir Begovic.
45' - Half-time score: Liverpool 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain. In a clearly dominated half by Liverpool, PSG have been given some minor chances at the net, all of which have been stopped dramatically by either Asmir Begovic or the Liverpool defenders, I believe we are seeing our champions in Liverpool return to their throne.
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45' - As the second half kicks off, PSG are looking more determined and aggresive, and it looks like Liverpool are as well. This is going to be a cracking second-half to the Champions League final, live from Germany in the Olympiastadion.
50' - Marco Verratti smashes the ball in from the corner post straight to the feet of Lucas Digne, who shoots for the net and instead hits the post, before the ball ricochets off the woodwork and hits the forehead of Clement Chatome, who makes the ball hit the crossbar, before the ball is cleared by Jordan Henderson, straight to the feet of Daniel Sturridge, who runs down the centre and dodges past the tackle of David Luiz and easily outpaces Thiago Silva, before he shoots for the goal and is blocked by Salvatore Sirigu.
77' - GOAL! Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, who came on as a substitute for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, sprints past Mamadou Sakho and then passes it through to Ezequiel Lavezzi, whose shot is blocked by Asmir Begovic. Bahebeck then runs to the left wing and collects the rebound, before passing it to Javier Pastore. Pastore chips it Edinson Cavani, who clealy taps it to Ezequiel Lavezzi, who slots it past Begovic and into the net to make it 1-1.
FT - At the end of 90 minutes, the score is 1-1. The Champions League final is heading into extra-time at the Olympiastadion in Germany.
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91' - GOAL! After Jordan Henderson is clattered to the floor by Thiago Silva in the box, the referee awards Liverpool the penalty. Rickie Lambert steps up and calmly beats Salvatore Sirigu, letting Liverpool take the lead in the Champions League final once again.
98' - GOAL! Jordan Henderson steps up to the free kick position, awarded to him after Blaise Matuidi took down Steven Gerrard. He looks over the wall and attacks the ball, lifting it over the wall and straight past Salvatore Sirigu. Half of the Liverpool squad sprint at him and maul him with thanks and celebrations as the crowd screams in delight.
102' - GOAL! As Asmir Begovic takes the free kick conceded by Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, which is considerably a far distance from his net, he kicks it straight to the feet of Marco Verratti, who sees the open net and shoots for the screamer, landing it in the bottom left hand corner from 50 yards out.
105' - GOAL! Steven Gerrard links up with Jordan Henderson, who passes to Mario Balotelli. Balotelli thinks for a second before crossing it out onto the left wing to Alberto Moreno, who then sees Daniel Sturridge. Sturridge stops with the ball and dribbles past Rafinha, before beating Salvatore Sirigu at his near post to put Liverpool ahead by 4-2.
EFT: That's it! It's over! Liverpool have done it! Robbie Fowler has led his side to Champions League victory! Liverpool have reclaimed their throne and are Champions of Europe once more!
Man Of The Match
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Jordan Henderson takes the Man of the Match award in the Champions League final, after his tremendous free-kick from outside the box, nearly 20 yards out, hit the back of the net, which was coupled with his good-looking ability in the air and ability to control the ball with his feet. Henderson, Liverpool's vice-captain, has been in superb form this season, contributing 12 goals and ten assists in forty-nine appearances.