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Gerrard's last-gasp effort leaves Atletico fuming
5 Nov 2008Atletico Madrid defender Mariano Pernia claimed he received an apology from the assistant referee after conceding a late penalty in his side's 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Champions League last night.
Pernia was adjudged to have fouled Reds skipper Steven Gerrard in an aerial collision in the box in the 94th minute of a game Atletico had led from the first half through a goal from their own captain, Maxi Rodriguez.
Gerrard stepped up to convert the spot kick and in the process deny the Spanish side a place in the last 16 of the competition.
But Pernia insisted he did nothing wrong and that the assistant referee admitted his mistake. "It was a very ugly decision by the linesman but we all make mistakes and I think the linesman made one," he said.
"In nobody's eyes was that a penalty. We're very hurt to have drawn in what was practically the final minute.
"It was not a foul, Gerrard threw himself on top of me. The linesman said sorry after the penalty was given. He had time to correct it and go back on it but he didn't."
Pernia's frustration was echoed by Atletico's goalscorer Maxi, whose goal after 37 minutes had looked to have booked his side their place in the next round.
"It makes you so angry to draw like that," he said.
"We'd been planning for this all week and then it's a shame that all gets thrown away in the final action of the game and to be honest I think the referee made a mistake."
But Rafael Benitez insisted Swedish referee Martin Hansson was right to award the injury-time penalty.
The Liverpool boss said: "There was a clear handball in the second-half that was not given and had that offence against Steven taken place in the middle of the pitch it would have been a free-kick, so it was a penalty."
Despite the loss of two points the Madrid side still lead Group D, level with Liverpool on eight points.
However, they must now play Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on 26 November in an empty stadium behind closed doors following a UEFA punishment for crowd trouble during the Champions League game against Marseille at the Vicente Calderon.
Reader views (5)
Yet another outrageous dive by Gerrard, when are the referee's going to wake up to this cheat's underhand ways. How many more penalties are the cheating liverpool players going to get this year? as for Benitez? just another overated motormouth Spanish manager.
- James Hennessy, London England, 05/11/2008 16:26
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I thought Liverpool were desperate and did everything including falling down when SG who I admire a lot should have been on his feet. They did the same against Arsenal at the last Champions League match with Babel falling down as if he had been struck by lightning. They were finally eliminated by Chelsea which was justice done. History might repeat itself again. Watch the space!
- Julius Nuga, Abbots Langley UK, 05/11/2008 13:56
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Gerrard legged it at full speed for his high jump penalty. Def played for, and the ref was defintly conned.
- Dom, London, 05/11/2008 13:32
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Another over-exaggerated fall (a "dive" if he were a foreigner)by Gerrard. He goes down quicker than Linda Lovelace!!!
- Mark, South-East London, 05/11/2008 11:12
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Benitez is so full of it at times,i wonder if he would have said it was a deffinite penalty had it been the other end in injury time..i doubt it very much,Liverpool are getting so much luck at th moment it is bound too run out sooner rather than later,Keane is looking poor value lot of running around but no end product,without Gerrard,Carragher and torres they would be nowhere.enjoy the luck while it lasts Rafa as you are a long way from being a great side.
- Sparky, croxley, 05/11/2008 08:56
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