31 May 2022 | 21:38 | Football
Liverpool entered the 2021/22 Champions League semi-final second leg in good spirits after a 2-0 first-leg win. However, just three minutes after the referee blew the opening whistle, Kop’s confidence was quickly dashed.
Estupinan made a cross from the left, midfielder Capue leaned forward slightly, and the ball bounced towards Braiedia. The striker then eased the ball into Alisson’s net from close range to give Villarreal a 1-0 lead at home.
There was a leading goal soon after and the morale of the Villarreal players was very high. The home team continued to create difficulties for the visiting team due to the high-pressure pressing style, which also caused Liverpool to face many difficulties in adjusting the ball.
According to statistics, throughout the first half, Cope’s ball-holding rate was only 44%, and no shots hit the target. Villarreal, meanwhile, had Allison’s goal wobbled on multiple occasions by the stop.
In the 41st minute, after many missed opportunities, Villarreal finally scored to expand the lead. Midfielder Capue continued to play assists and made a precise cross from the right. Coquelin headed the goal and knocked down goalkeeper Alisson. Villarreal took a 2-0 lead and equalized the score 2-2 in the two rounds.
Heading into the second half, manager Jurgen Klopp was forced to make some changes to help Liverpool improve their game. After a poor first 45 minutes, Diogo Jota had to leave to make way for rookie Luis Diaz.
The Brazilian star’s presence soon brought a new breath to The Kop’s offense thanks to his mobility and wide range of maneuvers. In the 62nd minute, Salah made a homeopathic pass to let Fabinho get away, and then shot decisively to reduce the score to 1-2.
Having an EQ helps Kop take a lot of pressure off and play better and better. In the 67th minute, Alexander-Arnold made a rough pass from the right, allowing Luis Diaz to run with ease, then the header approached the goal and Liverpool equalized 2-2. The aggregate score after two games also improved to 4-2 for the Kop.
Diaz’s goal almost completely broke Villarreal’s spirit. In the 75th minute, defender Paul Torres scored with a header, creating conditions for Nabiketa to get the ball in the middle. No. 8 midfielder immediately made a precise long pass, and Mane got away. The Senegalese star deftly passed goalkeeper Rulli and midfielder Juan Foyt before hitting an empty net.
In the rest of the time, Liverpool took the initiative to slow down the pace of the game and let many central posts such as Thiago or Robertson rest. at the same time, Villarreal couldn’t get more goals despite their best efforts.
In the end, the game ended with a score of 3-2 and Liverpool won. Kop has become the first name to win a ticket to the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League final with a 5-2 aggregate score after two games.
starting lineup
Villarreal: Rulli; Voith, Albiol, Torres, Estupignan; Parejo, Capue; Lo Celso, Corcoran; Moreno, Dia
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konat, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Jota
quantum dots
