#6 Luis Garcia’s “ghost goal” for Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League semi-final
After Chelsea and Liverpool had drawn 0-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at Stamford Bridge, everything was on the line in the return leg at Anfield.
It was Liverpool who ran out winners – and went on to win the trophy – but perhaps it should never have been the case. The game was decided by a Luis Garcia goal in the fourth minute of the first half, but it was a huge question mark, to say the least.
A flick from Steven Gerrard found its way to Milan Baros, who lobbed the ball over Petr Cech. It didn’t find its way to goal, until Luis Garcia rushed in and looked to poke home, only for William Gallas to manage a last-ditch goal-line clearance.
Video replays appeared to confirm that Gallas had saved the day, but the referee adjudged that the line had been crossed, much to the chagrin of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. Liverpool held on to win the game 1-0 and made the final while Chelsea were left to curse their luck.
Who knows what would’ve happened had video technology been used and the goal been disallowed? Maybe we would never have seen Liverpool’s ‘Miracle of Istanbul’.
