Agencies

Istanbul, May 26:

Andriy Shevchenko had three chances to stave off the greatest comeback in Champions Cup history. A running header from 10 feet. A second touch from even closer. A penalty kick to extend the shootout.

Jerzy Dudek stop-ped them all, and his final diving save lifted Liverpool to its fifth Champions League crown. The underdogs won 3-2 on penalty kicks after a 3-3 tie. It must have been near impossible to forget his last two shots. In the 118th minute, he was inches away from thwarting Liverpool’s three-goal comeback. He ran on goal and headed a perfect crossing pass toward the left post.

Dudek retreated and made the stop while falling down, but couldn’t control the rebound. Shevchenko’s stride took him straight to the loose ball, and with the goalie on his knees, the game appeared over. But Shevchenko shot to the near post and Dudek somehow deflected the ball with his left arm, up and over the crossbar.

After AC Milan’s Serginho and Andrea Pirlo missed to begin the shootout, Djibril Cisse put Liverpool ahead 2-0. Jon Dahl Tomasson converted for AC Milan, and after a Liverpool miss, Kaka tied it 2-2.

Vladimir Smicer then gave Liverpool a 3-2 lead, meaning Shevchenko needed to make his penalty kick. He partially fooled a diving Dudek with a shot toward the centre, but the Liverpool goalie reached back to swat it with his left hand, setting off a wild celebration.

Milan captain Paolo Maldini, chasing his fifth European Cup title at 36, got his first goal of the season after just 52 seconds, and Hernan Crespo’s two strikes put the Serie A team in control entering the break.

Gerrard’s header started the comeback, and Liverpool needed just six minutes to pull even. Smicer followed with a low shot just past Milan goalie Dida, and Xabi Alonso’s rebound on his own penalty kick tied it at 3-all.

Now Liverpool has to persuade UEFA to let it defend the title. Gerrard’s team finished fifth in the Premier League, which meant it did not capture one of the top four spots that guarantee a place in next season’s Champions League.Liverpool ousted newly crowned Italian and English champions Juventus and Chelsea to reach the final before beating favourite Milan.