LIVERPOOL, England - Liverpool reached the Champions League final today after a controversial early goal by Spanish attacking midfielder Luis Garcia gave them a 1-0 home win over Chelsea.
Liverpool, who won the semifinal 1-0 on aggregate after a 0-0 draw in the first leg, will face AC Milan or PSV Eindhoven in their sixth European Cup final on May 25 in Istanbul.
But the fourth-minute goal that gave them victory over newly crowned premier league champions Chelsea was highly contentious as Slovakian referee Lubos Michel ruled the ball had crossed the line, although television replays were inconclusive.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard superbly deflected forward a square pass from John Arne Riise on the left and striker Milan Baros lobbed it over Chelsea's advancing goalkeeper Petr Cech, who brought down his Czech countryman inside the area.
Garcia followed up to knock the ball goalwards and it took a slight deflection off Chelsea captain John Terry before William Gallas hooked it from under the bar, but the goal was given.
The Anfield side's defence stood firm in the face of Chelsea's second-half onslaught and goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek made a fine diving save from Frank Lampard's 67th minute free kick.
- REUTERS
Soccer: Liverpool reach Champions League final
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