'Deadly’ Diego Forlan came back to haunt Liverpool once again last night, as the ex-Manchester United forward scored the decisive away goal that sent Atletico Madrid through to the Europa League final in Hamburg.
Atletico came into the game with a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg (with the goal in that game also coming from Forlan) and it was clear from Rafa Benitez’s team selection that he was wary of conceding what could, and did, prove to be a crucial away goal. Liverpool ’s injury problems at left-back meant Glen Johnson switching flanks and Javier Mascherano filling in at right-back. Mascherano never looked comfortable and his distribution, which is poor at the best of times, was terrible.
Liverpool played quite well in the first half but became overly cautious after opening the scoring through the improving Alberto Aquilani. The Italian gave his team the lead with a neat first-time finish from the edge of the box, and it looked as if Atletico were ready to collapse. The rest of normal time was played out without too much incident though, with both teams unwilling to open up in search of a winner.
Liverpool started extra-time aggressively and quickly made it 2-0 on the night through Yossi Benayoun, who is far and away their most underrated player. Benayoun held his run on the edge of the box and was picked out with a lovely pass from the otherwise garbage Lucas Leiva, and the Israeli beat 19 year old David De Gea with a calm left-footed finish. It was a nice goal but the goalkeeper really should have done better.
The game then picked up after the introduction of Juarado for Atletico, with the Spaniard picking the ball up from deep and driving at the heart of Liverpool ’s ever-declining defence. Atletico started to look more dangerous going forward and soon scored what would prove to be the decisive goal as Diego Forlan, scorer of a comedy goal at Anfield for Manchester United years ago, got on the end of Jose Antonio Reyes’ pass and absolutely hammered the ball beyond Pepe Reina.
Glen Johnson, who has never looked particularly solid defensively, made a mess of an aerial challenge with Reyes in the build up to the goal, and you have to wonder if Fabio Capello will have much confidence in his defending should England come up against quality teams at the World Cup. It’s hard to imagine Johnson coping with the likes of David Silva or Angel Di Maria.
Liverpool pushed for another goal but with Gerrard struggling to get into the game at that point they never really looked like scoring. The fact that Benitez could only turn to the likes of Nabil El Zhar shows just how poor Liverpool’s squad is beyond the first eleven (which itself isn’t too impressive). If Juventus’ offer is genuine then I’d be shocked if Benitez doesn’t get out of Liverpool now, before his reputation takes any further damage.
Atletico’s opponents in Germany will be Fulham, whose dramatic 2-1 win against Hamburg at Craven Cottage sent them through to their first major final. It really is incredible how far they’ve come under Roy Hodgson, who took the job with Fulham lying bottom of the Premier League in January 2007. Unless Alex Ferguson wins the title for a record fourth time in a row then Hodgson should surely be nailed on for Manager of the Year.
Fulham looked in trouble after falling behind to an incredible free-kick from Mladen Petric. They hit back though, with Simon Davies – quite possibly the most underwhelming player to ever pull on an Everton shirt – making it 1-1 with a superb piece of individual skill. “Cheeky bastard”, thought Evertonians everywhere, after witnessing the Welsh nonentity pull off something we never dreamed of seeing him do at Everton.
Zoltan Gera finished the job, controlling and finishing impressively in a packed penalty area. It’s hard not to be pleased for Fulham, who never seem to give up on their principles of keeping the ball on the ground and playing their own game.
A good night all round.
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