Liverpool completed a shocking comeback against AC Milan in the Champions League final at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium with a 3-2 win on penalty kicks. Liverpool overcame a three-goal deficit at halftime to send the game into a shootout with the score tied at 3-3. The tremendous effort allowed the Reds to claim their fifth European Cup championship, and first since 1984. Reds goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek capped off the incredible comeback when he denied AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko to secure the victory. Dudek also stopped an attempt by Andrea Pirlo just moments after watching Serginho's attempt sail well over the crossbar. Liverpool, heavy underdogs coming into the contest, was in serious trouble after allowing a first-minute strike by Paolo Maldini and two first-half goals by AC Milan's Hernan Crespo. But Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso scored in a six-minute span early in the second half to tie the game, setting the stage for the dramatic shootout. AC Milan was hoping for a repeat performance from the 2003 Champions League final, where it emerged victorious after a penalty shootout against Juventus. But Dudek reached back and got his hand on a Shevchenko penalty shot right down the middle, sparking an improbable celebration for the Reds and coach Rafael Benitez. Liverpool won its last European Cup back in 1984 on penalty kicks as well. Benitez and Liverpool went into the locker room at the break trailing 3-0 and made a tactical adjustment that changed the game. The Spanish coach, who won the UEFA Cup last season with Valencia, took out defender Steve Finnan and replaced him with midfielder Dietmar Hamann. The change also pushed Gerrard further up the field to pressure the Milan defense. The move worked to perfection, as the Reds completely turned the tide. They had the ball for most of the first 20 minutes, pressuring the Rossoneri net at a staggering pace. The result was three goals in a six-minute span that tied the game at 3-3 with 30 minutes remaining in the contest. Gerrard, the Reds captain who was incredibly quiet in the first half, got Liverpool on the scoreboard with a header in the 54th minute. John Arne Riise's cross from the left wing found the English international midfielder wide open in front of the goal. Gerrard's header was placed by Milan goalkeeper Dida and into the corner of the net. Just moments later Liverpool would strike again. It was a long finish by Vladimir Smicer that drew the English side within a goal at 3-2. Smicer unleashed a low, hard shot that hit off the fingertips of Dida and inside the left post. With momentum clearly in its favor, Liverpool was able to get the shocking equalizer not long after Smicer's goal. It was Gerrard who was again in the middle of the action, as he was taken down from behind the area to earn a penalty. Xabi Alonso was called upon to take the kick. His attempt, pegged for the lower left corner, was denied by a diving Dida. But Garcia followed up his own miss and slammed home the goal, evening the score at 3-3 in the 60th minute. AC Milan bounced back and created some quality chances during the final 30 minutes. But the damage had already been done. The two sides needed extra time to decide a winner. In the first extra period, the Rossoneri dominated possession but never did put a real solid effort on net. The brilliance of Gerrard was clearly evident during the 15 minutes, as he came back and made several key defensive plays to stymie the Milan attack. AC Milan was again the initiator in the second overtime period. Dudek, clearly the game's hero, saved the day for Liverpool with two tremendous saves on Shevchenko from in close. Shevchenko had both his attempts from right in front of the net, but was not able to beat the alert goalkeeper, subsequently sending the game to penalties -- where Dudek would again deny Shevchenko with the game on the line. Serginho started the shootout with a bad miss, putting his shot well over the bar. Hamann then gave Liverpool a lead it would never relinquish with a strong finish. Dudek's save on Pirlo put the Reds in a commanding position. AC Milan did get conversions from Jon Dahl Tomasson and Kaka before Shevchenko's miss. Djibril Cisse and Smicer made their shots, while Arne Riise had Liverpool's only failed conversion when Dida stopped his drive. Maldini opened the scoring in the first minute with a fantastic side-volley. Pirlo set up the goal with a free kick that was met by Maldini just to the right of the penalty spot. It would only get worse for Liverpool during the opening 45 minutes. AC Milan dominated the action, with Kaka constantly running free in the midfield and setting up striker Shevchenko and Crespo. The score would have been 2-0 in the 14th minute if not for a goal-line save by Liverpool's Luis Garcia. The Spaniard headed an attempt by Crespo off the line to keep it a one-goal game. But AC Milan would eventually double its lead on a Crespo goal. He found the back of the net after some beautiful work by Kaka and Shevchenko set him up for an easy tap-in goal. Kaka carried the ball through the midfield before dishing to Shevchenko on the right wing. Rather than shooting, the Ukrainian international star found Crespo near the far post for the game's second goal. Just five minutes later in the 44th minute, Crespo struck again to make it 3-0 in favor of the Italians. Kaka again set up the goal, this time with a beautifully threaded long ball. Crespo latched onto the pass and chipped delicately over a charging Dudek to give the Rossoneri a three-goal lead at the half.