Liverpool fans celebrate in Istanbul.
Photograph: Osman Orsal/AP
"I don't believe this," muttered a morose-looking Liverpool fan in the corner of the pub where we were watching the Champions League final. "Not even half-time, and we've lost already." He drained his glass of red wine and sloped out, presumably in search of something less depressing to do.
He had a point - Liverpool were 3-0 down to Milan, having been ripped apart by some lightning (and beautiful) counterattacking. Not only that, but they were also failing to make much headway against a mean defence and seemed worryingly bereft of ideas.
All over, then. The man in the pub thought so, and more than a few Liverpool fans at the Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul apparently thought so too, leaving the ground at half time. They'll probably never forgive themselves.
Even when Steven Gerrard pulled a goal back, there was little indication that this would become one of the most remarkable European Cup finals of all.
Two minutes later, though, the often-maligned Czech international Vladimir Smicer made it 3-2, and the impossible was on. When Xabi Alonso followed up his own saved penalty to level, Rafa Benítez's side had implausibly breached the Milanese defence three times in a little over five minutes.
The rest is something of a blur: a neurotic half-hour of extra time, keeper Jerzy Dudek's heroics, and then the final act - Andriy Shevchenko, Milan's brilliant striker, tamely failing to beat him with what turned out to be the last kick of the penalty shoot-out.
Liverpool's official site is in overdrive this morning: Liverpool Football Club Are Back!, its headline screams. Underneath, there's a list of superlatives. But that's fair enough - it wasn't exactly a dull way in which to win the trophy for a fifth time (meaning the club gets to keep it).
What about you? Did you lose faith at half time, either leaving the ground or switching off your television set and going to find something else to do instead? Confess - or just voice your thoughts on the match - below.
