Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, right, and teammate Jamie Carragher kiss the Champions League trophy at The Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday May 25, 2005. Liverpool won the Champions League final, beating AC Milan 3-2 on penalties after the teams were level at 3-3 after 120 minutes.

Liverpool's goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek (L) of Poland stops a penalty shot from AC Milan's Ukrainian forward Andriy Shevchenko during the Champions League final soccer match at the Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul May 25, 2005.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, center, lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday May 25, 2005. (AP photo)

    BEIJING, May 26 -- Liverpool won the Champions League after beating AC Milan 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished 3-3 after extra-time.

    It is the fifth time that Liverpool have been crowned European champions - the last time was in 1984 when they beat AS Roma, also on penalties, and 20 years on from their last final against Juventus when 39 people were killed at the Heysel Stadium tragedy.

    Liverpool staged a remarkable fightback to force the final into extra-time as they scored three second-half goals - after trailing 3-0 at half-time - through Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso.

    A goal inside a minute by veteran Paolo Maldini and a double by Hernan Crespo a few minutes before half time gave Milan a huge advantage.

    Liverpool, having been European champions five times, now have the privilege of keeping the Champions League trophy.

AC Milan's captain Paolo Maldini, right, and Jaap Stam leave the field after Liverpool's victory in the UEFA Champions League Final between AC Milan and Liverpool at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey,Wednesday May 25, 2005. (AP photo)

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)