Manchester United won the Champions League final after winning a penalty shoot-out 6-5, with the score tied at 1-1 after extra time in Moscow.
I'm in absolute tears. This is so not what we deserved out of the game.
United came out firing. Cristiano Ronaldo gave Essien, employed at right back, a torrid time. Time and time again, his trickery and pace was too much for Essien to handle.
United took a deserved lead when Ronaldo headed home Brown's cross to score his 42nd goal of the season—something he said he would do, in an interview yesterday.
United could have and should have doubled their lead a couple of times in the first half. First Rooney robbed Carvalho of the ball deep in his own half and played an incredible, inch-perfect long ball to Ronaldo, who in turn skinned Essien and put in a lovely cross for Tevez. Cech did amazingly to somehow stop his header, and did even better to save the follow-up from Carrick.
Rooney then played a seemingly harmless ball into the box, which Tevez was inches away from turning in.
But Lampard equalised on the stroke of halftime, which you could say was lucky in the way it got to him. Nevertheless, he tucked it away and pointed to sky with the words "That's for you, mum."
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Second half, Chelsea came out the stronger of the two teams, and had a couple of great chances to win the game. In a largely quiet second half, Drogba hit the post in a heart stopping moment for both teams.
In extra time, it was Lampard's turn to hit the woodwork, after great work by Ballack.
Evra then dinged his way into the box and cut the ball back for Giggs, whose shot was saved incredibly by Terry.
Towards the end of the 120 minutes, a scuffle broke out between the two teams which ended in Drogba seeing red, for seemingly slapping Vidic. Ballack and Tevez (who started it all) were also booked for their part in the scuffle.
It was penalty shoot-out time. With United winning the toss, Tevez stepped up and scored comfortably. That was followed by comfortable spot kicks by Ballack, Carrick and Belletti.
With the shoot-out finely balanced at 2-2, up stepped Cristiano Ronaldo. He missed his penalty and Lampard stepped up to give Chelsea a 3-2 lead. That was followed by Anderson, Ashley Cole, Kalou and Nani all scoring their spot kicks.
Finally it was left to John Terry to seal the final. Sadly, he hit the post. Some say he slipped at the last second.
So the shoot-out went on and Giggs dispatched his penalty. Chelsea's chances now rested on the shoulders of Anelka. His spot kick was saved by Van der Sar and United players went wild.
From a Chelsea perspective, this is a game we definitely should have won. Ronaldo must be the luckiest boy alive at the moment. For United to lose the final because of him—after such a great season he's had, and so much of the good things about United have come through him—would have been strange, to say the least.
Anelka, who looked careless since he came on, certainly took his spot kick carelessly.
Did he join Chelsea for the money? It certainly looks like it, as I haven't seen him put in a determined performance ever since he joined.
It's amazing that Chelsea now ended up trophy-less, after going close in the league, Carling Cup and now Champions League.
Is this the end for Avram Grant?
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6 months ago
Sorry for you Sol... that was harsh in parts...
Will Grant ever manage again?
from 6 months ago
Thanks Alby, It was a game of two halves. United had the first half, while we had the second. Extra time, i think we probably shaded it, in terms of pressure and urgence.
Grant will probably be offered his old job back if he is lucky..
6 months ago
Grant and Drogba...I'm certain they will go, and maybe a few others too
from 6 months ago
As Terry as about to take his kick, I thought i'd be too good to be true that we were on the brink of CL glory.
Drogba and Grant will probably go and so they should. Drogba looked disinterested all game..
6 months ago
Feel for you man.
Don`t worry ManU will fall later this year.
from 6 months ago
Thanks man, I hope the winner of the Libertadores beats the living shit out of them...
6 months ago
ANELKA HAS NO BUSINESS TO DO WITH CHELSEA. I HATE HIM WHEN HE PLAYED FOR REAL MADRID. HE IS THE CANCER OF CHELSEA.
from 6 months ago
lol well, he's scored 2 goals in, i dont know how many games, since he joined us. I wouldnt brand him Cancer of Chelsea though...
6 months ago
Chelsea played well. Pity Drogba slapped Vidic. I was sure we were gonna win it. I love Anelka to bits, and he made a mistake, but if imagine the pressure he was under. and it was a good save by van der sar. A good game. And one all Chelsea fans will remember ffor a long time.
My hate of Manchester United gets bigger everyday.
from 6 months ago
I've always liked Anelka too, since his Arsenal days. I was excited when he signed for Chelsea. However, have you ever seen look him so careless for any other team? The penalty was weak and at a nice height for the keeper.....
from 6 months ago
yes man, you are right.I hate man u like anything.....
6 months ago
Who was your man of the match Saloman?
from 6 months ago
Both teams can probably lay claim to the man of the match being from their team, but for me it was Ashley Cole. This was as good as i've seen him since he joined...
What about you Keith?
from 6 months ago
Great shout Salomon, I'm no Ashley Cole fan as a person but in the biggest games he always delivers and he was excellent again last night, he has a great mentality for the big occasions.
It was just one of those games that neither team deserved to lose in my opinion. It is amazing how often the more regular winners of these competitions get the luck in them when it matters. Liverpool, Real Madrid, AC Milan etc, they have all been lucky at certain crucial times in CL runs. Look at United's 2 final wins under Fergie, they weren't the better side in either final, but its all about results, and the proven winners just seem to get over the line somehow.
Amazing how no London club has won the European Cup when you consider some of the teams from London.
from 6 months ago
Thanks Simon. Its amazing how we've come 2nd place in everything except the FA Cup....
from 6 months ago
I actually dont know who id pick, but yeah A. Cole had a great game. Maybe Van Der Sar shades it for me especially after the penalty heroics and the point blank range save from Ferdinhands stupid header.
Do you think if Chelsea played a natural right back like Ferreira, instead of Essien, Ronaldo would have got that header?
from 6 months ago
Could be!! But then again, we could have said that in any of the dozens of games that we employed Essien at right back. Fact is, Ronaldo had the better of Essien throughout the first half and Essien struggled to cope. Second half, Ronaldo was quiet because Essien actually made HIM defend...
6 months ago
We'll definitely have some retooling after this year. Drogba is gone, he was essentially thrown under the bus to take the sting off of the Terry miss. Grant- I could go either way on him. I think it's 50-50. The man did a good job this year. Then again he never won a big game. So do you give him further reign or risk more transition and bring in a "big" name guy? Chelsea needs stability and players who want to play for the Blues. Then if they don't play they need to be professional about it as well. No whining to the papers. I rarely hear others from the big four say this stuff during the season, with a few exceptions (Lehman and Wes Brown-come to mind). Nothing like Drogba or Tal...I believe this is a distraction. Anyway I digressed. If Grant comes back and does poorly next year, he'll be gone that's for sure.
from 6 months ago
You have a point there, Drogba certainly looked like he knew it would be his last game for us. Cant sayIm happy to see him go but cant say Im too bothered about it either.. His bad side is probably just as heavy as his good side, meaning he is a world class striker but also a bloody idiot...
6 months ago
This is so true what you said about Anelka. I'm wondering the same thing. I was and I'm still so sad we've lost it. We were so close, and we deserved it. I'm so disappointed about Drogba too...I'm not sad if he leaves, I just want Lampard to stay. Concerning what you said about Ashley Cole..Well since a few games he's been doing so good. He's definitely the good surprise of the season for me.
Again, thanks for your articles.
Neeby
6 months ago
You say that about anelka, and i quote "Did he join Chelsea for the money? It certainly looks like it, as I haven't seen him put in a determined performance ever since he joined." now im not saying he didnt join for the money and i also cant say iv watched numerous chelsea games to comment on his performance but he is your top goal scorer with 11 goals, ahead of lampard then drogba so he did something right for you!
Also it was in the paper on tuesday that lampard may be leaving for AC Milan. His agent did not deny anything and had said after the final franks going on holiday n when he returs they are "going to talk". AC are supposedly claiming they have practically signed him.
Drogba will probably go, god knows about avram grant. Theres speculation that abramovic wants to take over himself, however i dont believe this, but you never know
from 6 months ago
Homie, Anelka has scored 1 league goal for Chelsea, which came in our 1-1 draw at Portsmouth . The other 10 were scored for Bolton before he joined us. The only other goal he scored for us, was in the FA Cup against Wigan...
He has scored 2 goals since he joined us. I dont blame him for that at all, as it is Grant who decides to play him out of position, however, that is not a reason to put in such careless performances time and time again.
Lampard was linked with Inter, Not Ac Milan. Chelsea clearly denied the rumours at the pre-match conference. A Inter spokesman, also denied the rumours...
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