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Injury-time Riise own goal hands Chelsea crucial lifeline

22/04/2008

John Arne Riise's own goal in the final minute helped Chelsea secure a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool.

The Reds looked to be heading to Stamford Bridge next week having kept a clean sheet but the Norwegian's flying header in injury-time handed the Blues a vital away goal.

Dirk Kuyt had put Liverpool in the lead just before half time and the home side continued to pressurise the Chelsea goal, with the visitors offering little themselves.

Thus when Riise converted Salomon Kalou's cross the defender was left stunned even beyond the final whistle.

There were few chances during the early minutes as both sides worked at a furious pace to close each other down. Fernando Torres had the best chance but while he tried to control the ball Petr Cech was able to come off his line to make the save.

However, it was not long before Kuyt pounced. Xabi Alonso played a quick free-kick, Javier Mascherano then divert the ball into the Dutchman's path and he clipped it past Cech.

Liverpool played with more pace in the second half and dominated possession. They seemed to be determined to find a second goal and went close when Ryan Babel tried his luck from distance.

Cech was then forced to make another good save when he tipped Steven Gerrard's shot over the bar.

The Czech stopper then denied Torres for a second time as he blocked the Spaniard's close-range effort in the 87th minute.

With the home side seemingly marching towards victory, and the Kop in full voice, Kalou broke up the left flank and put a telling cross into the six yard box.

Although he was not under much pressure the quality of the cross was enough to worry Riise and he unwittingly nodded past Pepe Reina.

The second leg of the tie will be at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.