Gerard Izuora
Liverpool will face Real Madrid in the Champions League final on the 26th May following a 7-6 aggregate victory over Roma on Wednesday evening. The Reds seemingly settled the contest in the first half with goals from Sadio Mane & Georginio Wijnaldum, but Roma fought back at the end when Raja Nainggolan scored twice in four minutes left the Italian side needing one goal to progress with seconds to play.
After a commanding 5-2 lead from the first leg, Roma had no margin for error and made a fatal mistake just nine minutes into the match as Firmino capitalized on an error from Radja Nainggolan to play through Sadio Mane to give Liverpool an early lead. Despite the disastrous start, Roma fortuitously got back into the tie as a cross knocked off James Milner for an own goal.
Yet Klopp’s side didn’t lose their cool in the Olimpico, and took the lead again in the twenty-fifth minute, as Georginio Wijnaldum headed in from close range. With a four-goal cushion on aggregate, it seemed that Liverpool had all but qualified for the Kiev final.
Roma began their fightback in the 51st minute as Dzeko reacted to Karius from Stephan El Shaarawy’s shot and no mistake. Roma needed three goals to force extra time and went about their task. Di Rossi picked out substitute Cengiz Under with a perfect long ball, but the Turkish international could not get the adequate connection on the ball. Dzeko to was guilty of spurning two gilt-edged chances as the Giallorossi surged forward.
Just as it seemed that Roma ran out of steam, two goals in the final four minutes from Raja Nainggolan gave Roma late hope but it was too late for Eusebio Di Francesco’s side.
A speculative strike from the Belgian midfielder rebounded into the net off the post. Whilst Roma won a penalty with seconds left to plan when Ragnar Klavan handled the ball. Nainggolan converted and seconds later the referee blew up. Liverpool may have lost for the first time in the Champions League this season, but the Reds held on to reach their first final since 2007. Now a tie against Real Madrid awaits for Klopp’s side.