ISTANBUL, Turkey — Mounting one of the greatest comebacks in soccer history, Liverpool won Europe's club championship for the first time since 1984.

Liverpool became the first team to overcome a three-goal deficit in the Champions Cup final, beating AC Milan 3-2 on penalty kicks following a 3-3 tie yesterday.

"I don't think anyone has seen a game like that. I cannot believe we've just won," Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said. "People will be talking about that game in 20 or 30 years."

Liverpool, which finished fifth this season in England's Premier League, won the title for the fifth time, scoring three goals during a seven-minute sequence early in the second half. En route to the Champions League title, Liverpool eliminated newly crowned Italian and Premier League champions Juventus and Chelsea.

"We were massive underdogs at the beginning of the competition," Liverpool captain Steve Gerrard said. "I didn't think we were going to go all the way."

In the finale of the 50th Champions Cup, the teams combined for the most goals in a final since Benfica defeated Real Madrid 5-3 in 1962.

AC Milan's Andrea Pirlo and Andriy Shevchenko were stopped by Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek during penalty kicks after Serginho missed the net.

"Our three best penalty kickers were the ones who missed," AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "It was a very strange game. I thought we deserved to win."

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini got the first goal just 52 seconds in. Hernan Crespo added goals in the 39th and 43rd minutes.

Gerrard started the comeback with a goal on a header in the 54th minute off a cross from John Arne Riise.

Yesterday's Major League Soccer

At Wizards 1, MetroStars 0

Davy Arnaud scored in the 48th minute, and Bo Oshoniyi earned his third shutout of the season as Kansas City (3-2-3) beat the MetroStars (2-3-3).

Earthquakes 1, at Rapids 0

Alejandro Moreno scored in the 76th minute, and Pat Onstad stopped seven shots for his third shutout, helping San Jose (3-2-4) beat Colorado (2-7-1).

At Galaxy 0, Crew 0

Bill Gaudette made two saves as an emergency substitute in his first professional appearance and preserved a Columbus (3-5-1) tie with Los Angeles (5-2-1). Gaudette came on at the start of the second half after Jon Busch injured his right knee in a collision with teammate Robin Fraser in the 42nd minute. Los Angeles' Kevin Hartman earned his 49th career shutout.

Note

• D.C. United traded M Chris Henderson to Columbus for an allocation pick, the second trade involving the product of Everett's Cascade High School this week. Henderson was traded by Colorado to D.C. United on Monday for D Mike Petke.