Forlan thwarts Reds in Spain

Advantage Atletico as Spaniards take one-goal lead to Anfield

By Elliot Ball   Last updated: 23rd April 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Atletico v Liverpool Steven Gerrard woe

Gerrard and co. require another European comeback to book their passage to the final

Atletico v Liverpool Diego Forlan celeb

The ex-Red Devils marksman tormented the Merseysiders with the ninth minute goal

Forlan D - Atletico Madrid

Forlan enjoyed more success against Reds
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Diego Forlan came back to haunt Liverpool to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 advantage in their Europa League semi-final.

The former Manchester United striker gave the Primera Liga side a narrow edge going into the return leg at Anfield next Thursday after capitalising on some hopeless defending in the ninth minute.

Jose Manuel Jurado's ball into the box was met by Forlan, who was offered two bites at the cherry to give the Spanish outfit the perfect start on home soil.

Liverpool recovered and saw Yossi Benayoun disallowed what appeared a legitimate goal after being flagged offside midway through the first-half but in a match that failed to inspire, Rafa Benitez's side require a typical effort on Merseyside to reach the Hamburg showpiece on 12th May.

The Reds missed their injured striker Fernando Torres almost as much as the former darling of the Vicente Calderon missed the chance to face his old club, having also been denied that opportunity in the UEFA Champions League last season because of more fitness problems.

Closer together

Benitez had insisted the 1,200-mile journey by coach, train and eventually plane - after Uefa's insistence the match go ahead despite the volcanic ash cloud which grounded flights across Europe - had brought his squad closer together.

If only his defence had been tighter-knit in the ninth minute then they may not have conceded.

No-one will ever really know whether their exertions in getting to the Spanish capital had an impact but it was a sloppy piece of marking which cost them.

Forlan became something of a cult hero among United fans with both goals in a 2-1 victory at Anfield in 2002, albeit assisted by Reds goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

And it was he who returned to torment the Merseysiders when Jurado's cross from the left dropped over Jamie Carragher and picked him out on the edge of the six-yard area.

His first attempt at a header was reminiscent of those early United days when he earned the nickname "Diego Forlorn" because of his difficulty in scoring.

However, the Uruguayan is a better, more experienced - and even luckier - player now and as the ball from his duff header dropped right at his feet he poked it home off goalkeeper Jose Reina.

Had Benayoun enjoyed a similar slice of good fortune a minute later from Dirk Kuyt's cross his header would have nestled in the net instead of flying wide of the far post.

Wrong decision

The Israeli beat Atletico goalkeeper David de Gea eight minutes later but again the luck was against him, this time by virtue of a wrong offside decision.

Kuyt's miss-hit shot bobbled into the penalty area where Benayoun slotted the ball home only to be denied by an erroneous flag, as television replays proved.

Still Liverpool came forward and Steven Gerrard should have done better moments later when Lucas Leiva put him through only for the captain to shoot left-footed into the side-netting when he should have least hit the target.

But Atletico's threat had not diminished and their neat triangles in the final third of the pitch often cut open the visitors' defence.

Even right-back Tomas Ujfalusi got in on the act, weaving into the penalty area before shooting into the side-netting five minutes before half-time.

Forlan fluffed another a good chance soon after the break when he was put through on the edge of the penalty area but it was Reina's brilliance in producing a one-handed save which denied one-time Liverpool target Simao from Ujfalusi's cross.

The goalkeeper came to his side's rescue again as he beat away Ujfalusi's long-range strike and Carragher cleared as Atletico regained the initiative.

But Liverpool's experience and proud history, this match seeing them become the first English club to play in 16 European semi-finals, ensured they made a fight of it and, more importantly, did not concede again.

Of those 16 last-four encounters they have lost only four overall and their record when playing semi-final second legs at home is seven victories and one draw.

That statistic alone shows the power of Anfield on European nights.

Time will only tell how much Liverpool's long-distance travails on train, coach and plane cost them.

But, with fourth place in the Premier League looking beyond them, anything other than victory next week is likely to bring their season to a premature end.

Atletico MadridTeam StatisticsLiverpool
1Goals0
11st Half Goals0
4Shots on Target0
4Shots off Target3
4Blocked Shots0
4Corners0
10Fouls11
1Offsides4
1Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
79Passing Success76.1
25Tackles26
80Tackles Success80.8
50.3Possession49.7
55.3Territorial Advantage44.7
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Comments (2)

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Kele Abel (Liverpool fan) says...

Realy taught was newcastle was playing nva kew it was liverpool.Rafa and his poor players lik lucas, kuyt, ngog shud be shown d back door.Cos rafa staying,he wil play lucas, lucas playing livpool wil nva win.hes such a bad player.Sack rafa now or great liverpool wil bcom "great" leeds.YWNWA

Posted 22:46 22nd April 2010

Sam H (Liverpool fan) says...

Atheltico were worse then i thought they'd be especially against a team who has travelled in the way they have and with nearly half there supporters not making the journey. Liverpool should definatly turn them over at Anfield just like Benfica, who were a much better side.

Posted 22:43 22nd April 2010
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