Frank Lampard paid tribute to the stamina that brought Chelsea FC a 1-1 draw at Anfield and, the midfielder believes, the psychological edge in their UEFA Champions League semi-final with Liverpool FC.
Last-gasp leveller
Dirk Kuyt's 43rd-minute strike looked set to condemn the visitors to yet another 1-0 defeat on Merseyside after their losses in the last four in 2005 and 2007, only for John Arne Riise to turn Salomon Kalou's left-wing cross into his own net under pressure from Nicolas Anelka deep into added time. "The last second makes a difference, we know that and that's why we keep going to the end," said Lampard. "Liverpool had chances, they played well for periods but we kept going and I think it was a really good cup tie. We started well and created a couple of chances but let them rally and they scored. We were all disappointed at half-time because we dominated the first half-hour but we said to keep going and that goal makes a difference psychologically.
'Extra quality'
"Obviously it's an away goal; we knew Liverpool would have good periods in the game and we had to see them through," Lampard added. "We did that and started to create a little bit again and we had the feeling that something might happen. We kept going right until the last minute and deserved it. It was important [we kept believing]; we were on top in the first half but maybe without that little edge in front of goal, that little bit extra. We started to find it towards the end, Salomon added that little bit of quality and danger, put a good ball in the right area and fortunately it ended up in the back of the net."
'Most difficult week'
Lampard had missed Chelsea's previous two fixtures as his mother is seriously ill in hospital with pneumonia, and acknowledged that it was hard to focus on the game in such trying circumstances. "It's been the most difficult week of my life, without football, let alone finding a game like this at the end of it," he acknowledged. "In the last two days I felt that I could play. The manager, club and my team-mates have all been fantastic and it just helped me to take my mind off things a little bit. Things are a little bit better back home, mum's stable at the minute and that's the biggest boost I could ask for."
'Deserved luck'
Chelsea are now within touching distance of a first UEFA Champions League final and Lampard is urging his team-mates to make the most of the opportunity Riise's goal has given them. "We have a good chance now but we can't get carried away. There's still a lot to do, we knew how important a goal would be but it doesn't mean we're through. Having the second leg at home was only going to be an advantage if we got the right result here. That late goal made it a much better result and we deserved that bit of luck – we haven't had much before here. Liverpool are a very accomplished team in Europe and it's still in the balance. Perhaps if we were playing a European team the away goal might be more important but Liverpool will believe they can come to Stamford Bridge and beat us. That goal will only be important if we follow up the job at home."
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