The Hindu : Sport / Football : Gerrard's goal clinches issue for the Reds

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Friday, Dec 10, 2004

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Gerrard's goal clinches issue for the Reds

LONDON, DEC. 9. Italy and Spain have done it before, but it's the first time England has sent four teams to the final 16 of the Champions League. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United were already in, and Steven Gerrard's dramatic goal in the 86th minute on Wednesday helped Liverpool advance with a 3-1 victory over Olympiakos.

Liverpool trailed 1-0 at halftime, and under complicated Champions League rules, the Reds had to win by a two-goal margin to advance.

``At halftime I did think it was a mountain to climb, but we climbed it,'' said Gerrard, who hinted before the game he would leave Liverpool if the side failed to reach the final 16.

Late in the match, Gerrard stuck a rising shot from 20 metres that sailed high into the net, stirring the 45,000 at Anfield into a bellowing rendition of the team anthem: ``You'll Never Walk Alone.''

Wednesday's results: First round:

Group A: Deportivo La Coruna 0 lost to Monaco 5 (Ernesto Chevanton, Gael Givet, Javier Saviola, Douglas Maicon, Emmanuel Adebayor).

Liverpool 3 (Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Neil Mellor, Steven Gerrard) bt Olympiakos 1 (Rivaldo).

Group B: Bayer Leverkusen 3 (Juan, 51; Andrei Voronin, 77; Mirko Babic, 86) bt Dynamo Kiev 0; AS Roma 0 lost to Real Madrid 3 (Ronaldo, Figo 2).

Group C: Ajax 2 (Tomas Galasek, Nicolae Mitea 64) drew with Bayern Munich 2 (Roy Makaay, Michael Ballack); Maccabi Tel Aviv 1 (Barukh Dego) drew with Juventus 1 (Alessandro Del Pierro).

Group D: Fenerbache 3 (Tuncay Sanli 3) bt Manchester United 0; Lyon 5 (Michael Essien, Nilmar 2, Bryan Bergougnoux 67, Sylvain Indangar, 83) bt Sparta Prague. — AP

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