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With the new year just hours old, uefa.com relives the best of the UEFA Champions League from the last 12 months.
MOMENT OF 2005
Jerzy Dudek (Liverpool FC v AC Milan)
Liverpool's comeback from 3-0 down to win on penalties in Istanbul to lift the trophy is well documented. But one moment in extra time prevented a very different, if equally dramatic, denouement. With two minutes left before a shoot-out would be required, Andriy Shevchenko headed the ball towards goal from close range. It seemed destined to go in, but somehow Dudek kept it out. The Milan striker was first to the rebound and the net seemed set to bulge, only for the goalkeeper to again pull off a point-blank save. Soon after Dudek was denying Shevchenko from the spot, and the celebrations began in Liverpool - and Poland.
BEST GOAL
Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahçe SK v FC Schalke 04)
Better than Ronaldinho's similar and more famous strike against Chelsea FC last season, we reckon. Having just fallen 3-2 down at home to Schalke with 13 minutes left on Matchday 3 on 19 October, Fenerbahçe looked likely to suffer a costly defeat. Appiah, though, kept his head as the ball came to him outside the area on the right. The Ghanian summer signing produced a stunning volley that arced over Frank Rost and into the top left-hand corner.
BEST QUOTE
"I want Barcelona to go on and win the Spanish Primera División. If we had lost I would have wanted them to win the UEFA Champions League."
José Mourinho (Chelsea FC v FC Barcelona)
Chelsea’s often outspoken manager shows his graceful side after his team’s dramatic victory against Barça, who two months later made his first wish come true.
BEST COMEBACK
FC Artmedia at FC Porto
Artmedia, on their UEFA Champions League debut, were given a difficult task for their first away trip; a visit to the Estádio do Dragão to face 2004 winners FC Porto. The job was seemingly impossible when Porto led 2-0 after 39 minutes. But Peter Petráš pulled one back just before the break, and after being told by coach Vladimir Weiss that "it is better to lose 5-2 than not try to get something", the Slovakian champions continued to rally. Ján Kozák finished off a counterattack in the 54th minute and Balázs Borbély struck an unlikely winner 16 minutes from time.
MOST HEARTWARMING STORY
Yannis Anastasiou (AFC Ajax v FC Thun)
Greek striker Yannis Anastasiou was on his way out at Ajax in March. Told he was to be released, he was barely featuring in the starting lineup anyway. But then Danny Blind arrived as coach and told the 32-year-old he wanted him to stay because of his good influence on the younger players. Then on Matchday 3 Blind surprisingly picked the striker for the fixture against Thun, with Ajax struggling in Group B. Anastasiou responded by scoring both goals, and added another in a the subsequent 4-2 win in Switzerland that took Ajax to the verge of the last 16 for the first time in three years.
BEST NICKNAME
Crocodile Thundee - Ljubo Milicevic, FC Thun
Not only were the Swiss minnows a healthy addition to the UEFA Champions League, but inspiration was not lacking when they gave their Australian defender his cinematic moniker. Should really have been worth bonus points.
With the new year just hours old, uefa.com relives the best of the UEFA Champions League from the last 12 months.
MOMENT OF 2005
Jerzy Dudek (Liverpool FC v AC Milan)
Liverpool's comeback from 3-0 down to win on penalties in Istanbul to lift the trophy is well documented. But one moment in extra time prevented a very different, if equally dramatic, denouement. With two minutes left before a shoot-out would be required, Andriy Shevchenko headed the ball towards goal from close range. It seemed destined to go in, but somehow Dudek kept it out. The Milan striker was first to the rebound and the net seemed set to bulge, only for the goalkeeper to again pull off a point-blank save. Soon after Dudek was denying Shevchenko from the spot, and the celebrations began in Liverpool - and Poland.
BEST GOAL
Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahçe SK v FC Schalke 04)
Better than Ronaldinho's similar and more famous strike against Chelsea FC last season, we reckon. Having just fallen 3-2 down at home to Schalke with 13 minutes left on Matchday 3 on 19 October, Fenerbahçe looked likely to suffer a costly defeat. Appiah, though, kept his head as the ball came to him outside the area on the right. The Ghanian summer signing produced a stunning volley that arced over Frank Rost and into the top left-hand corner.
BEST QUOTE
"I want Barcelona to go on and win the Spanish Primera División. If we had lost I would have wanted them to win the UEFA Champions League."
José Mourinho (Chelsea FC v FC Barcelona)
Chelsea’s often outspoken manager shows his graceful side after his team’s dramatic victory against Barça, who two months later made his first wish come true.
BEST COMEBACK
FC Artmedia at FC Porto
Artmedia, on their UEFA Champions League debut, were given a difficult task for their first away trip; a visit to the Estádio do Dragão to face 2004 winners FC Porto. The job was seemingly impossible when Porto led 2-0 after 39 minutes. But Peter Petráš pulled one back just before the break, and after being told by coach Vladimir Weiss that "it is better to lose 5-2 than not try to get something", the Slovakian champions continued to rally. Ján Kozák finished off a counterattack in the 54th minute and Balázs Borbély struck an unlikely winner 16 minutes from time.
MOST HEARTWARMING STORY
Yannis Anastasiou (AFC Ajax v FC Thun)
Greek striker Yannis Anastasiou was on his way out at Ajax in March. Told he was to be released, he was barely featuring in the starting lineup anyway. But then Danny Blind arrived as coach and told the 32-year-old he wanted him to stay because of his good influence on the younger players. Then on Matchday 3 Blind surprisingly picked the striker for the fixture against Thun, with Ajax struggling in Group B. Anastasiou responded by scoring both goals, and added another in a the subsequent 4-2 win in Switzerland that took Ajax to the verge of the last 16 for the first time in three years.
BEST NICKNAME
Crocodile Thundee - Ljubo Milicevic, FC Thun
Not only were the Swiss minnows a healthy addition to the UEFA Champions League, but inspiration was not lacking when they gave their Australian defender his cinematic moniker. Should really have been worth bonus points.
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