Xuenou > Sports > Liverpool cult hero Luis Garcia didn’t even realise Chelsea ghost goal ‘had been cleared’
Liverpool cult hero Luis Garcia didn’t even realise Chelsea ghost goal ‘had been cleared’
Liverpool cult hero Luis Garcia didn't even realise Chelsea ghost goal 'had been cleared',Liverpool's 2005 Champions League semi-final goal-scorer Luis Garcia still believes his controversial ghost goal against Chelsea went in despite replays showing otherwise

Liverpool cult hero Luis Garcia didn’t even realise Chelsea ghost goal ‘had been cleared’

Liverpool cult hero Luis Garcia finally opened up about his mystifying ‘ghost goal’ against Chelsea.

The Spaniard scored the decisive winner against Chelsea in a Champions League semi-final back in 2005. A goalless draw at Stamford Bridge meant Garcia’s fourth minute strike in the second-leg at Anfield was enough to send the Reds to the final in Istanbul, where they enjoyed one of the greatest nights in their history.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard had played a chipped through-ball over the Blues defence, which striker Milan Baros attempted to prod in. Baros was brought down by goalkeeper Petr Cech in his effort – but while the crowd appealed for a penalty, Garcia capitalised by getting his own attempt in at goal.

His shot deflected off John Terry before William Gallas rushed back to make a desperate goal-line clearance. But Garca was already away and celebrating, with the buzzing Anfield crowd left speechless as Slovakian referee Lubos Michel took a few moments before awarding a goal.

READ MORE: 'I did an interview on MUTV – the next day Sir Alex said 'what the f*** are you doing'

The goal was hugely controversial at the time and remains so even today, with footage never showing the ball to have actually crossed the line. A retrospective VAR clip uploaded to YouTube by Sky Sports almost two decades likewise failed to prove that the goal should have been given.

And Garcia, who celebrated with such conviction even the official was fooled, admitted years later that he was so sure the ball crossed the line that he ran off before even seeing Gallas’ clearance.

What is the strangest goal you have ever seen awarded? Let us know in the comments section.

Luis Garcia rushed off to celebrate following the clearance before the goal was even awarded
Luis Garcia rushed off to celebrate following the clearance before the goal was even awarded (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Luis Garcia still believes his effort went in
Luis Garcia still believes his effort went in (Image: Football Daily Shorts)
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    “When they touch the ball, I wait for it to bounce and then I go to celebrate. I don’t wait around, I just run off to celebrate. And once I ran for like 15 metres and didn’t see my teammates coming towards me, I was thinking ‘what is happening’.

    “For not one second did I have a doubt it had gone in. My reaction means I saw the ball going in. Nothing more to say, your honour.”