Liverpool advanced to the UEFA Champions League final for the second time in three years after defeating Chelsea 4-1 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 aggregate draw on Tuesday. Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt notched home the decisive spot kick after Arjen Robben and Geremi missed for Chelsea. Danish defender Daniel Agger scored midway through the first-half to help Liverpool deny the visitors their first-leg lead. The Reds, who won the Champions League in 2005, will face the winners of Manchester United-AC Milan clash in the competition's final on the 23rd of May. Liverpool dominated in terms of possession in the opening 20 minutes but failed to pose threat on Chelsea keeper Petr Cech as they couldn't break through the Blues' tight defense. The hosts needed a creative set-piece to break the deadlock and send the crowd into ecstasy. The chance came when Liverpool were awarded a free-kick in the left-flank after Chelsea's Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel fouled Boudewijn Zenden. Everybody was expecting Gerrard to swing it in, but he instead played a low cross to Agger, who fired a left-footed shot at the near post to level the aggregate score.
Chelsea then pushed forward searching for the equalizer but they barely created goal scoring opportunities. The only chance came through Didier Drogba in the 32nd minute when he was released by Mikel's pass which beat the offside trap but the Ivorian striker's effort from a tight angle was blocked by Liverpool keeper Jose Reina. The Spanish custodian was called into action just before halftime, punching away Frank Lampard's free-kick from the left hand side of the pitch. Liverpool had the upper hand in the second-half and were unlucky not to double the lead on three occasions as Chelsea were surprisingly tamed despite Jose Mourinho's assertion that his side will have an attacking approach. Giant striker Peter Crouch rose above Paulo Ferreira and Michael Essien in the 56th minute to head Jermaine Pennant's lively cross towards the net but Cech was there to deny the England striker's effort. Three minutes later, Crouch's striking partner Kuyt connected with John Arne Riise's cross to send a glancing header that was denied by the crossbar. Chelsea could have stunned the home crowd in the 75th minute when Mikel picked out Ashley Cole with a brilliant long ball before the left-back got to the by-line and sent a low cross but Jamie Carragher cut ahead of Drogba to clear the ball off the line. Neither team was able to threat in both halves of extra time as the encounter had to be decided by penalties.
