AC Milan vs Liverpool, Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties

Thanks for sticking with Soccernet through the competition: make sure you come back for all the reaction and celebrations over the next couple of days.

England can be proud again.

My flat-mate is a Liverpool fan. He's going to be excited right now. Excited, and drunk. I hope the neighbours are out.

"It hasn't sunk in," says Gerrard. He spits on the ground and picks his nose as he is asked some inane question. Then he mumbles something about being proud and the fans being the 12th man. Then he disappears in to the fog.

Carragher is interviewed. His voice is so high that only dogs can hear what he's saying. He mentions something about his groin and his calf, before making a sound that resembles a horse neighing.

Cisse and Traore embrace with their tops off. There are a lot of muscles and tatoos involved.

Dudek is interviewed by British television. He makes no sense in his words, mumbling something about Bruce Grobelaar. His eyes are darting all over the show.

Maldini kicks his heels. He wanders around the hlaf-way line with his arms crossed. He looks moody and surly, but very handsome. He can take some consolation in that.

Riise skips like a girl, and Garcia jigs along with his friend. Gerrard is mobbed by random strangers. Hamann almost musters a smile.

The celebrations are wild. The Liverpool players have run the length of the field to cheer with their own fans, who are combusting with excitement and glee.

This was a special effort from Liverpool. A stunning comeback.

MILAN 2-3 LIVERPOOL: Shevchenko tries to be cute. He succeeds only in chipping the ball lamely at Dudek and making himself look like a fool. LIVERPOOL WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!!!

MILAN 2-3 LIVERPOOL: Smicer keeps Liverpool's noses in front with a calm side-foot effort. He affords himself a smug smile.

MILAN 2-2 LIVERPOOL: Kaka crashes his shot high in to the net, ignoring Dudek's blatent efforts to put him out of his stride.

MILAN 1-2 LIVERPOOL: Dida makes Riise wait by disappearing behind the goal. The Milan keeper then makes a stunning low save as Riise side-foots for the corner.

MILAN 1-2 LIVERPOOL: Tomasson sprints up to the ball and drives his shot home. Like a whirlwind. Blink and you'll miss it.

MILAN 0-2 LIVERPOOL: Cisse explodes with joy as he side-foots home. He jumps and jigs and pumps his arms.

MILAN 0-1 LIVERPOOL: Pirlo tamely shoots to Dudek's right, but the keeper, a yard or so off his line, palms his effort wide. Dreadful penalty. She should be ashamed.

MILAN 0-1 LIVERPOOL: Hamann stutters in his run-up, but curls a good shot inside Dida's right-hand post. He takes a deep breath, and sticks his tongue out as he walks back to the centre circle.

MILAN 0-0 LIVERPOOL: Serginho places the ball very carefully. He skies it over the bar. Terrible penalty, and he looks rightly broken. Doofus.

Cisse is being lined-up for a penalty, as it seems is Garcia. Liverpool, we're told, haven't practised penalties in training this week. A mistake?

The Liverpool fans attempt to rally their team. Dudek looks nervous as he chats to a Liverpool coach. He could emerge a hero tonight.

Both managers attempt to drum up enthusiasm for a penalty shoot-out. They fail - their players look shattered and broken.

FULL-TIME: We have penalties.

...the ball is worked to Riise, but Shevchenko charges down the shot.