10 Greatest sporting chokes of all time (Part-1)

7. AC Milan, UEFA Champions League 2005 final – ‘That night in Istanbul!’

Football fans around the world would rather have this game etched in their memory forever.

AC Milan, the overwhelming favourites kicked off in resounding fashion with a goal from Paolo Maldini in the very first minute. With the game still looking poised for a close finish, Milan increased the gap with another goal from Crespo in the last few minutes of the first half. Another goal from Crespo in the closing stages of the first half, as Milan opened up a 3-0 lead, a winning margin any other day – sadly, not enough on that night.

Maybe the possibility of being so close to winning the trophy made things increasingly difficult for the Italian club in the second half. Milan fans were left in disbelief as the Liverpool side led by Steven Gerrard clawed back to score three goals in a ten-minute span. The match went into extra-time for the 13^th time ever in the competition history but it wasn’t enough to separate the two sides. It finally came down to penalties shootout – always tipped as a battle of nerves. With Seedorf, Pirlo and Shevchenko missing from the spot, Liverpool did achieve the impossible. Milan, after coming so close to Cup glory had to wait for another year.