LONDON — If John Arne Riise believes there is a football god, the Liverpool substitute will have prayed to it every night since his stoppage time own-goal handed Chelsea a 1-1 draw in last Tuesday's Champions League semifinal, first leg.
Maybe even Riise doesn't know why he headed Salomon Kalou's left-wing cross as he did, giving a startled Pepe Reina no chance as the ball sped past him into the Liverpool net.
Maybe the Norwegian didn't trust his weaker right foot with the clearance and in the split-second he had to decide opted to head the ball clear — or in his own net as it turned out.