KEY POINTS:
LIVERPOOL, England - Liverpool beat Chelsea 4-1 on penalties to reach the Champions League soccer final for the second time in three seasons today.
Their second leg ended 1-0 after extra time with the only goal coming from Danish defender Daniel Agger after 22 minutes.
With the tie
ending locked in a 1-1 stalemate after Chelsea's 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge last week, the stage was set for the first penalty shootout at the semi-final stage since the Champions League replaced the old European Cup in 1992.
The only goal of a nerve-wracking 120 minutes came following a cleverly-taken free-kick from Steven Gerrard. He sent a hard low cross towards the edge of the Chelsea penalty area rather than an expected high ball to the centre of it.
Agger played his part perfectly, sweeping in a well-struck shot that swerved just inside the post and into the Chelsea net out of the reach of goalkeeper Petr Cech.
"Every player and every supporter was a hero tonight. The team all worked very hard -- against a very good team," Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez said.
"I was confident in the players (for the penalties). They like to practise penalties every day after training."
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said: "There is little to say. This is a moment where everyone has to be strong. The players have a lot of reasons to be proud of themselves. We were the best team today, even against a team playing only in the Champions League. Football is like this, we have to be strong to face it."
Boudewijn Zenden, Xabi Alonso, Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt all converted their penalties for Liverpool while goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved penalties by Chelsea's Arjen Robben and Geremi to send Liverpool through to the seventh European Cup final in their history against either Manchester United or AC Milan in Athens on May 23.
Chances were few and far between for both sides with Peter Crouch seeing a header saved by Cech's feet on the line after 55 minutes and Dirk Kuyt heading against the Chelsea bar after 59 minutes.
At the other end Didier Drogba drew a fine save from Pepe Reina after 32 minutes.
Kuyt had a second goal ruled out for offside in extra time, but scored the final penalty to give Liverpool their 4-1 winning margin.
Chelsea, looking for a goal that would all but kill the tie began with an all-Ivorian strike force of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, while Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard started in his preferred central midfield role.
Liverpool took the game to Chelsea and made good use of the height of towering striker Peter Crouch and scored from their first scoring with Agger putting them in front in a well-worked move.
Joe Cole conceded a free kick on the left and Gerrard, instead on lifting the ball high into the area, squared it low for Agger to curve a low first-time shot just inside the post and wide of Cech into the back of the Chelsea net.
The goal, which looked as if it had come straight from Liverpool's training pitch, roused Chelsea from their lethargy and it took a good block by Reds keeper Jose Reina to stop Drogba's angled shot on the run after 32 minutes.
Michael Essien might also have grabbed an equaliser, but the Ghanaian midfielder-turned-defender's effort drifted wide of the target after a nod-on by Drogba.
Liverpool's next chance came 10 minutes after the re-start when Jermaine Pennant crossed from the right and Chelsea captain John Terry had to clear after Crouch's header was only blocked by Petr Cech.
Liverpool's Dutch striker Kuyt was no luckier a few minutes later when he sent a header past Cech -- only to see the ball crack against the crossbar and bounce to safety.
The Anfield crowd, who had been belting out their passionate support since kickoff, made sure the atmospere stayed electric as Liverpool turned the screw on the English champions.
- REUTERS
