25 May, 2005

How mad was Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League Final? Fantastic result for Liverpool – and AC Milan must feel pretty awful at playing so well and still end up losing. [Though, to be fair, the disparity between the two teams was nowhere near the gulf between how Man Utd and Arsenal played in the FA Cup Final at the weekend]

Due to the timing of the European games out here (2:45 am), I usually watch them at home where I sup water and try to be as quiet as possible. However, as Weds’ game was a big one (though the correct footballer’s adjective for ‘big’ is ‘massive’), I thought it only right to venture out to the Penny Black on Boat Quay.

The bar is the home to ‘East Of Anfield FC’ (mad bunch of expat and local Liverpool fans) – and was absolutely heaving by 1:30. Great atmosphere inside and, thankfully, it took ages to get served as we (Gareth and I) both had school in the am (or in like 7 hours time).

With Liverpool shipping 3 goals by half-time, things did not look good to say the least. But there was a silver-lining: about a third of the pub left to go home and kick the cat before grabbing some kip. Which meant that there was no some breathing space for the rest of us.

When Liverpool got one back, I thought there was hope. [Though, if the truth be known, it was probably more like ‘well at least the scoreline is more respectable]. The second so soon after and the whole place went crazy. And then the roof in the bar came off when Alonso smashed home the rebound from his penalty.

Even though the rest of the game was scoreless, there was still some heart-in-mouth moments - especially Dudek’s surreal double-save from Shevchenko right at the end of Extra-Time.

I know that penalties are cruel – but when your team wins on them, who cares!

Fantastic stuff. And coincidental too as back in 1981

Prince Charles gets married
Coronation Street's Ken and Deirdre gets married
There is a new Doctor Who
Norwich City and Crystal Palace are both relegated
Liverpool won 17 league games and finish 5th
Liverpool won the European Cup

Ended up in the bar til 6am, hope by 7am, cooked Sarah and I breakfast and in the office by 9. Needless to say that I was absolutely shattered yesterday.

And with our own Beer Cellar Utd being so short of players, I could not cry out of our football match last night. Ended up playing the whole game, which we won 4-1. Though skipped going back to the Beer Cellar afterwards and went straight home to sleep. And sleep…....