By Emdad Rahman
Original article - It was whilst
watching Chelsea's Champions League semi final night of magic at the Nou Camp
that my mind wandered back to Istanbul 2005 and the greatest game in Champions
League history.
Amongst the
many heroes that played that night was one Jerzy Henryk Dudek.
Arsene Wenger
had tracked the Polish number one for several years, so many fans were best
pleased when Gerard Houllier lured the eccentric stopper from Feyenoord to
Anfield in a double swoop with Coventry's rising star Chris Kirkland.
With Kirkland
earmarked as a long term prospect, the Rybnik born star was automatically
installed as the new No.1 in place of Dutchman Sander Westerveld.
"The Big
Pole in Our Goal" enjoyed a tremendous full debut season as Liverpool finished
runners up in the Premier League. But, although a brilliant reflex goalie and
an outstanding shot stopper, Dudek's lack of concentration at times proved
costly.
Second season
syndrome kicked in and in December 2002 Dudek's slither through palms and legs
blunder against Manchester United led to Diego Forlan scoring. Houllier later
revealed that the clanger led to Dudek shedding tears.
Although
there was much sympathy from the likes of Houllier and Jamie Carragher, Dudek
lost his place to the patient Kirkland. He was not left kicking his heels for
long as the injury prone youngster allowed Dudek a way back in a
month later.
2005 is the
year that Dudek forged himself a place in Anfield folklore. Houllier had left
the club and Rafael Benitez had taken over and guided virtually the same team
to dizzy heights in the Champions League and eventually the final in Istanbul.
The scene was
chaotic - perfect for Dudek. He conceded three unstoppable goals to Carlo
Ancelotti's rampaging Milan team. Another 45 minute stroll on the grass and the
cup was heading back to Italy. The Milanese lit their victory cigars, though
the fat lady had not yet sung.
Dietmar
Hamann came on for the second half and what happened during the rest of the
game may never be seen at that level of the game again. Dudek's incredible
double reflex save from Andriy Shevchenko was the icing of the cake as Liverpool clawed
back to 3-3.
He'd warned
of the next moment in a prior interview with liverpoolfc.tv. Carragher had
briefed him about the legendary antics of Bruce Grobbelaar and Dudek obliged,
re-enacting Brucie's 1984 wobbly jelly legs routine from the eternal city of
Rome.
He said:
"Carra came up to me after extra time and said 'Remember Grobbelaar and
the rubbery legs of 84 - and do the same. Dance, do anything, put them
off'!"
Shevchenko's
nightmare was mercifully ended as his shootout penalty was saved by Dudek. Yes,
Liverpool were European champions for the fifth time.
Jamie
Carragher added: "It is one of the greatest finals of all time and the
save Jerzy Dudek made from Shevchenko at the end was unbelievable.
"I can't
believe we've won. He'll be a legend now, not just for the penalties but
because of the Shevchenko saves in the game itself. They were
unbelievable."
Dudek joined
legends Józef Młynarczyk and Zbiniew Boniek as Polish European Cup winners.
Further fame followed as Liverpool based Trophy Boyz recorded an
innovative single titled 'Du the Dudek.'
Spaghetti
Legs, who in six seasons played 186 games for Liverpool, dedicated the
astonishing win to his fan, Pope John Paul II, a goalkeeper in his
youth, who he had met in 2004, presenting the late Pontiff with a souvenir
keeper's shirt.
To mark its
50th issue, Champions - the official UEFA Champions League magazine - UEFA.com
managed a poll of iconic memories.
Dudek's
double save from Shevchenko in the final was voted the Greatest Champions
League moment of all time, beating off Zinedine Zidane's resplendent volley
against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 to secure Real Madrid's ninth European Cup,
and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dramatic final second winner against Bayern Munich
in 1999.
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