Kuyt puts Liverpool in CL

Thursday 28 August 2008

Dirk Kuyt has made his club Liverpool a few million euro richer.

After a terrible match in which Standard Liege were actually the better side Kuyt benefited from the only mistake the Belgian defense made over 210 minutes of football between the two sides.

In the 118th minute Dante overlooked Kuyt Luring behind him when he was dealing with a Babel cross.

Instead of diverting the ball for a corner he let it go past him where Kuyt had snug up and volleyed it in at the far post.

It was more than Liverpool deserved.

The team of Rafa Benitez - seriously helped by referee Massimo Busacca - again gave a very bleak and witless performance and saw Standard have the better chances.

De Camargo could have clinched the game five minutes before the end of the 90 minutes, but his free header went a meter wide.

Then when everybody was putting their minds to penalties Dirk Kuyt decided the tie two minutes before the end.

As always match winner Kuyt was positive after the game: "It was a tough game, but we kept believing in ourselves and in the end it was an accomplishment to win it. We had to be in the Champions League as we reached the final and the semifinal during the last two editions. Standard were a hard nut, they kept on fighting, even in extra time."

Big disappointment of course in the Belgian camp.

Captain Steven Defour: "I am speechless. Standard deserved to go through to the Champions League. We played two perfect matches until that tiny opening and the ball of course went in. Standard were at least the equals of Liverpool."

A great match inside the match were the skirmishes on the side line between Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and Standard coach Laszlo Bölöni.

It reached a climax when Liverpool refused to give the ball back to Standard after one of the Standard players had been treated for an injury.

Very unsympathetic of Liverpool, but great theater on the side line.

"With all due respect, but the best team didn't win today," Bölöni said.

"We played great and were well organized. I am very proud of my team. We had a number of chances, both here and in the first leg, when we missed a penalty. One mistake now cost us. When you are so close you can only be disappointed. The referee was in favor of them, but that is not important anymore. I wish Liverpool all the best in the Champions League."