Villareal, Which Was So Perfect In The First Half, Was Not Enough To Stop Liverpool From Reaching The Final

Photo via @_fabihotavares

JAKARTA - Liverpool's legs are now in the Champions League final after beating Villareal 3-2 in the second leg of the semi-final at the Estadio de la Ceramica, Villareal, Spain, Wednesday GMT+7 (Indonesian Time).

Villarreal equalized 2-2 on aggregate through goals from Boulaye Dia (3') and Francis Coquelin (41') in the first half.

Liverpool responded with goals from Fabinho (62'), Luis Diaz (67') and Sadio Mane (74') to take a three-goal advantage on aggregate towards the final at the Stade de France, Paris, according to the official UEFA website quoted from Antara.

The hosts scored a quick goal two minutes after the start when Boulaye Dia picked up an assist from Etienne Capoue. The Frenchman opted to pass a long cross from the left to the Senegalese striker who was in front of Ibrahima Konate in the six yard box, rounding goalkeeper Alisson Becker who found the net conceded from close range.

Liverpool had a golden opportunity in the 24th minute when goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli was forced out of the net to anticipate the ball and Diogo Jota slipped through the net.

However, when he tried to clear it, the goalkeeper found the ball bouncing off his hands, giving Mohamed Salah the chance to steal the ball and shoot it wide before the referee whistled for a foul.

Villareal controlled the game at a time when Liverpool's players were nervous and unable to hold on to the ball.

Naby Kieta crossed the ball back to the backline but it landed at the feet of Gerard Moreno. He turned and sent the ball to Giovani Lo Ceslo who was in the box.

The Argentine midfielder attempted to steer the ball sideways but collided with Alisson and the whole stadium cheered for the penalty that never came as the referee decided the goalkeeper had won the ball first.

Villareal did not relax their attacks and grabbed the equalizer on aggregate in the 41st minute. Capoue received a long ball from behind, past Andy Robertson before waving a cross into the net.

Trent Alexander-Arnold jumped in late and allowed Francis Coquelin to head the ball into Alisson's net to revive the Spanish side's hopes of reaching the final of Europe's elite club competition.

The Yellow Submarines had a perfect first 45 minutes given the tough task of overturning a two-goal deficit after the first leg defeat at Anfield.

Without Roberto Firmino, who has been sidelined since April 19 with a foot injury, Jurgen Klopp then brought on Luis Diaz to replace Jota in the second half.

Klopp has warned his team will have to "suffice" if they are to qualify for Paris on a tough night in Spain this time.

Liverpool started to create more scoring chances in the second half after Alexander-Arnold's strike from distance landed on the crossbar, then it was Diaz who volleyed home just wide.

And in the 62nd minute the Reds got the goal they wanted when Fabinho got a through ball from Salah and slotted the ball from a tight angle past Rulli's legs into the net.

Our lighthouse tipping the #UCL semi-final tie back in our favour ❤

What a moment, @_fabinhotavares ⚽ pic.twitter.com/UnpG5xIW49

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 4, 2022

Five minutes later, Diaz escaped the offside trap and restored Liverpool's two-goal advantage on aggregate using a cross from Alexander-Arnold which was followed by a close-range header into Rulli's net.

The Villareal players looked exhausted after all their efforts in the first half were denied by the two goals. Unai Emery made a number of changes, including Samuel Chukwueze for Gerard Moreno and Alfonso Pedrasa for Francis Coquelin.

However, Liverpool further solidified their path to the final through Sadio Mane's goal in the 74th minute when Keita volleyed in Mane's cross, with ten Villarreal players playing halfway through, who managed to outwit Rulli and a tackle from Juan Foyth before netting the ball into the net.

Capoue received his second yellow card after a foul on Curtis Jones, throwing Villareal night into chaos at home.

In the final on May 28, Liverpool will meet Real Madrid or Manchester City, who will undergo the semi-final second leg on Wednesday. City hold a 4-3 aggregate advantage from the first leg.