Bayern Munich and Liverpool legends share 10 goals in charity thriller
Liverpool and Bayern Munich Legends played out an entertaining 5-5 draw at Anfield as the German club put in a remarkable comeback in the name of charity.
Liverpool Legends 5-5 Bayern Munich Legends
Goals: 1-0 Kuyt (5’), 2-0 Owen (8’), 3-0 Fowler (17’), 3-1 Toni (20’), 3-2 Zickler (22’), 3-3 Sergio (30’), 3-4 Zickler (33’), 4-4 Fowler (45’), 4-5 Alonso (73’), 5-5 Kvarme (88’)
The action at Anfield got off to the worse possible start for Bayern as they quickly found themselves 3-0 down to strikes from Dirk Kuyt, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler. The Bavarian Legends did manage to turn the game around though, giving Liverpool a taste of their own medicine from their UEFA Champions League comeback in Istanbul in 2005. Luca Toni, Alexander Zickler (2) and Paulo Sergio turned the tables by scoring four goals without reply inside 13 minutes. Zickler’s second to put Bayern ahead for the first time came following a wayward ball across the box from Xabi Alonso, who was still in Liverpool colours at the time. A deflected Fowler free-kick on the stroke of half-time had Liverpool level after 45 minutes.
Both teams made several changes for the start of the second half. Alonso switched sides at the break, while another legend to represent both clubs, Dietmar Hamann, came on for the Merseyside club. The cricket-loving German only lasted 25 minutes, though, as some of the older legends were given brief run-outs, with substitutions and fatigue seemingly limiting the scoring chances in the second half. Alonso, now in Bayern colours, continued to help the club where he retired when he put the Bavarians back ahead when he fired a sweet free-kick around the wall and past goalkeeper David James. Liverpool again levelled late in the half when Norwegian Bjorn Tore Kvarme smashed home a loose ball. The hosts thought they had the winner moments later when Luis Garcia bundled the ball home following Steven Gerrard’s strike against the woodwork, but the lineman’s flag ruled it out as a thoroughly entertaining match between legends drew to a close.
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Liverpool starting XI: Dudek - McAteer, Carragher, Agger, Risse - Alonso, McManaman, Gerrard, Kuyt - Fowler, Owen
Liverpool squad: Aldridge, Smicer, Babb, Berger, Garcia, Kvarme, McAlister, Hamann, James, Rush
Bayern starting XI: Butt - Ze Roberto, Demichelis, Lizarazu - Matthäus, Tarnat - Zickler, Sergio, Makaay, Elber – Toni
Bayern squad: Gospodarek, Pflügler, Tarnat, Zimmermann, Van Buyten, Kuffour, Witezcek, Misimovic, Ottl, Sternkopf
As it happened