Gerrard Pastikan Kemenangan Liverpool dari Titik Penalti
Late Anfield Drama as Captain Scores Injury-time Penalty Against Ludogorets
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
Liverpool (B2B) - Liverpool menorehkan kemenangan dramatis 2-1 atas tim debutan asal Bulgaria Ludogorets, di mana ketiga gol tercipta pada 12 menit terakhir pada pertandingan Grup B Liga Champions mereka di Anfield, Selasa (Rabu WIB).
Mario Balotelli membawa Liverpool memimpin pada menit ke-82, Dani Abalo menyamakan kedudukan untuk Ludogorets saat waktu menunjukkan menit ke-90.
Kemudian Steven Gerrard memastikan kemenangan Liverpool melalui eksekusi penalti pada menit keempat masa perpanjangan waktu, seperti dilansir Yahoo Sports.
Gerrard mencetak gol dari titik putih setelah kiper Ludogorets Milan Borjan melakukan tindak pengamanan yang terlalu keras, dan menjatuhkan bek Manquillo dan Gerrard tidak menyia-nyiakan peluang yang dimilikinya, seperti dilansir Yahoo Sports.
Ludorets nyaris mencetak gol sebelum penalti Gerrard, ketika upaya Roman Bezjak membentur tiang gawang pada menit ke-72 dan, meski mereka layak mendapat pujian untuk penampilan yang menghibur, Liverpool berhak mendapat tiga angka, ketika Gerrard mencetak gol dan pertandingan hanya menyisakan beberapa detik.
Liverpool - Steven Gerrard converted a last-gasp penalty as Liverpool scored a dramatic 2-1 win over debutants Ludogorets of Bulgaria with all three goals coming in the last 12 minutes of their Champions League Group B match at Anfield on Tuesday.
Mario Balotelli put Liverpool ahead after 82 minutes, Dani Abalo equalised for Ludogorets as the clock struck 90 minutes before Gerrard won it for Liverpool in the fourth minute of added time.
Gerrard, netting his 40th European goal, struck from the spot after Ludogorets keeper Milan Borjan made a hash of a clearance and brought down defender Javi Manquillo.
Ludogorets went closest to a goal before the late flurry started when Roman Bezjak hit a post after 72 minutes. It promised to be a memorable night for five-time former European champions Liverpool who were returning to the Champions League after a five year absence, but much of the match proved frustrating for them.
Ludogorets overcame a cautious start and began to stretch Liverpool at the back with Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho a constant menace with his swift breaks. He was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the first half when Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren shoved him over, and he also went close to a goal himself in the second half.
