How it unfolded
Fifty seconds after kickoff, Paolo Maldini volleyed home an Andrea Pirlo free kick — the fastest goal in European Cup/Champions League final history. Hernán Crespo added two more in the 39th and 44th minutes, the second a first-time finish off a Kaká through ball. Milan led 3-0 at half-time. Rafael Benítez replaced Steve Finnan with Dietmar Hamann at the break, switching to a three-man midfield. Six minutes into the second half, captain Steven Gerrard headed in a John Arne Riise cross, and two minutes later Vladimír Šmicer scored with a low shot from outside the box. Nine minutes later, Gerrard was fouled by Gennaro Gattuso for a penalty, which Xabi Alonso had saved but scored on the rebound. Liverpool had levelled it at 3-3 in six second-half minutes. In extra time, Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek made back-to-back saves from an Andriy Shevchenko header at close range and the follow-up shot. In the shootout, Serginho fired over the bar and Dudek saved from both Pirlo and Shevchenko to seal a 3-2 win.
Why it still matters
This remains the only final ever won after trailing 3-0 at half-time, and this fifth title let Liverpool keep the original European Cup trophy permanently. The win also forced UEFA to reconsider its automatic qualifying spot for defending champions the following season, and it anchored Liverpool's European identity in the years before the Klopp era.