Frank Lampard’s Best Moments At Chelsea FC
The Emotional Penalty vs Liverpool
Leading up to the Champions League semifinal second leg against Liverpool in 2008, Frank Lampard’s mother Pat had passed away after being struck with pneumonia. The two shared a very close relationship and Frank was not chosen by manager Avram Grant to play against Liverpool but after begging to play was inserted in to the lineup.
He admitted later that he played the match in a “zombie state” but you would not have guessed it by his performance and the fortitude he showed in the match’s biggest and most dramatic moment.
With the match hanging in the balance in the first period of extra-time, Sami Hyypia fouled Michael Ballack in the box and Chelsea FC was awarded a penalty. Wearing a black armband to commemorate his late mother, Lampard stepped up to the spot with the weight of the world on his shoulders. With a swing of his right leg Lampard sent Pepe Reina the wrong way and scored for the Blues.
After scoring he ran to the corner flag and pulled off the armband to kiss it and nearly collapsed under the weight of such an emotional week and penalty. Drogba sealed the victory moments later to earn Chelsea’s first trip to a Champions League Final but that penalty is a moment that truly transcends sports.
Next: Champions League, Finally