Kop that

I SAW IT with my own eyes but I still can't quite believe it. After the most one of the most sensational comebacks of all time, Liverpool kept their nerve in a penalty shoot-out to become Champions of Europe.

Twenty one years ago, when last they held that title, they also won in a penalty shoot-out. There the similarities end.

This highly-charged night was like no other. Rafa Benitez and his team have joined the ranks of Merseyside immortals. No, make that sporting immortals.

As darkness fell at the end of a hot, sunny day in Istanbul, an almost autumnal coldness unexpectedly took hold but the emotional temperature didn't dip in the Ataturk Stadium, where the Liverpool invasion brought back memories of the way the Irish took over Giants Stadium at the World Cup in 1994.

The 70,000 capacity Ataturk may lack the in-your-face intimacy of Anfield, and it could never hope to reverberate in quite same thunderous way as Liverpool's holy ground did for the semi-final against Chelsea, but the travelling Red Army did all they could to make it feel like a home from home for Benitez's men.

As two-thirds of the ground bellowed out the club's signature tune, you realised yet again that no matter how far they travel, this is a club that never walks alone.

And, last night, as Liverpool were taken apart by AC Milan in a one-sided first half, they needed that show of undying support more than ever. How it helped to galvanise the Reds.

So much for those who predicted a tight, cautious affair. Instead, we got drama that left all privileged enough to see it uplifted and emotionally drained.

Within a minute, Milan were a goal ahead. By half-time they had added another two, and the game seemed as good as over.

The Italians displayed swaggering class, spreading the ball at will, and putting together slick, one-touch passing movements that had Liverpool chasing shadows.

In contrast to the fabled teams which delivered Liverpool's European triumphs in the past, the current side is more about heart and soul than pass and move. The stylish stuff was Milan's in the first 45, and Liverpool grit could offer no resistance.

It began to unravel for Liverpool with 55 seconds on the clock. Andrea Pirlo swung in a free from the right, to of all people Paolo Maldini to crash home the shot past Jerzy Dudek.

On the night of his seventh European Cup final, the captain was in seventh heaven, mobbed by team-mates and breaking away to salute the fans.

Benitez's gamble of playing a less than fit Harry Kewell backfired when he had to be substituted by Vladimir Smicer but, at that stage, that was merely a sideshow.

Little did we know. It might have been different if Luis Garcia's claims for a handball against Maldini had been heeded but, as if stung by the rare sight of a red shirt in their box, Milan promptly broke upfield, with Andriy Shevchenko crossing from the right for Hernan Crespo to almost tap in at the far post: 2-0.

Next, it was the turn of the irresistible Kaka to play a pivotal role. He had already shown off his full range of flicks, nutmegs and slaloming runs when, with just two minutes to go to the break, he tore apart the Liverpool defence with a lancing pass which Crespo finished off with a delicate chip over Dudek.

It was painful stuff for Liverpool fans but a feast for the senses of all those who love their football played with panache and power.

And still the travelling Kop refused to hang their heads. "We're going to win 4-3," they sang during the half-time break. And when a passing Scouser saw me at the laptop, he leaned over to advise: "Write that it'll go to penalties."

And we both laughed ruefully.

His team seemed not only dead and buried but was, frankly, beginning to whiff a bit.

Milan, meanwhile, were on the cigars and brandy. And then, with almost shocking suddenness, their table was overturned. Nine minutes after the restart, Gerrard's header found the net: 3-1. One minute later, substitute Smicer's long-range drive beat Dida: 3-2.

And then, incredibly, on the hour mark, after Steven Gerrard seemed to be bundled over in the box by Gattuso TV evidence suggested otherwise Xabi Alonso punished Dida's penalty save on the rebound: 3-3.

"What the hell is going on here?" said the man beside me. At least I think that's what he said, because all was now red-hot bedlam.

Coin a new word call it redlam.

Shell-shocked, it was Milan's turn to fall apart, even the great Maldini reduced to hitting aimless balls up front. With Smicer threatening from the right, and Didi Hamman on for Steve Finnan at the break stiffening up the midfield, it was Liverpool who were knocking it about as the fans cheered every pass.

And when Milan did threaten, there was the mighty Jamie Carragher to stop first Kaka and then Shevchenko with brave, last-ditch tackles. Even Djimi Traore added to the heroics, clearing a Pirlo effort off the line.

As time ran out, Djibril Cisse replaced Baros but, despite piling on the pressure, Liverpool couldn't complete the job inside 90 minutes.

After all that had happened, you figured Liverpool's name was surely on the cup. But Milan regained their poise if not their menace as, admirably, both sides tried to finish it.

That Milan didn't succeed was down to an astonishing double-save by Dudek to keep out Shevchenko as if this night didn't have enough, it now had a couple of candidates for saves of the season.

And then, when our senses could barely stand any more, it was time for the shoot-out.

For Milan's imperious first half and Liverpool's magnificent second, neither truly deserved to be put on the spot in such a fashion.

But the team that refused to die over was not going to go down in a shoot-out. And when Shevchenko's weak effort was stopped by Dudek, the most incredible of Liverpool's five European titles was secured.

"Rafa is the Bosphorus", punned one banner. He can make that boss for life, if he likes.