Tonight, Manchester United became the champion of Europe for the third time in their history.
On an eventful night in Moscow, United was the eventual winners, drawing 1-1 with Chelsea after extra time. The match would be settled on penalties, in which Cristiano Ronaldo, John Terry and Nicolas Anelka all missed. In the end, United won 6-5.
In what was a fitting tribute to the victims of the Munich Air Disaster, United dominated the first half, and then in turn, got battered in the second. Both teams thoroughly deserved the win for their performances in their respective halves of the game.
Below is what was essentially a play-by-play/review of the game. Enjoy.
United started the game in typical fashion, bombarding its way forward at every opportunity. Nemanja Vidic made the first notable attempt, trying to find Carlos Tevez, but the ball was too weighty for Tevez to reach.
United continued to play balls forward, hoping someone could latch on.
The first incident of the game came in the 21st minute when Paul Scholes and Claude Makelele went up for a header. Scholes came off worst, sporting a bloody nose.
A scene all too common emerged, with the referee being needlessly surrounded by loads of players. It resulted in Scholes and Makelele both being booked.
Six minutes later, United was in the lead. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a fantastic header that gave Petr Cech absolutely no chance at all!
Great goal and a well deserved lead.
United was determined to add to that lead, and should have made it 2-0 just eight minutes later. A great diagonal ball from Wayne Rooney to Cristiano Ronaldo was followed by a great cross from the Portuguese wizard into Tevez who headed it into Cech.
United were unfazed, and almost scored again when Rooney sent in a low cross to Carlos Tevez, who was just millimetres away from scoring into an open goal.
Chelsea was yet to come to life—and then, luck came to their side.
Michael Essien struck a hopeful ball forward, which then took a deflection off two United players, and fooled Van der Sar into diving for it. Frank Lampard tapped the ball in to level for Chelsea, albeit undeservedly.
United was punished for not finishing the game off earlier on.
United went into half time knowing they should have three goals. TV pundits immediately jumped on the bandwagon, saying that Chelsea now had the game to win.
Chelsea started the second period by resuming the assault, quite literally, as Ballack hacked down Ronaldo. He deserved a booking, but didn't receive one—a cheap shot there. Ronaldo responded by finding Evra, but his cross was slightly too long.
Essien could have put Chelsea ahead shortly after. He fooled Ronaldo, and had the time to prepare the shot, but skied it over the bar. Chelsea continued to pile forward, but United's defense was coping better than it did in the first half.
Chelsea pushed and pushed even more, but all attacks were dealt with by a competent United defense.
The game was becoming a match of two halves. United were killing Chelsea going forward in the first, but now, Chelsea was doing the same to United.
United fans, Chelsea fans, Neutrals. They were all loving what they were seeing, an entertaining game. The atmosphere was electric inside Moscow.
With 15 minutes left, Sir Alex Ferguson seemed to gesture to Wayne Rooney that the midfield should switch to five players. This meant a 4-5-1 formation, something United fans are not fond of.
Didier Drogba was in a great position from 20 yards out, took the shot, which rebounded off the post. United were lucky to escape from that one. Chelsea knew they were the better team in this half, and were punishing United for not finishing the game in the first half.
Tevez had a chance from 30 yards out, but hit the shot high and wide. United was getting desperate. Scrappy play from United, and the fans were getting frustrated.
Too much showboating from Ronaldo was costing United as they went forward.
Paul Scholes came off as a 87th minute substitute for Ryan Giggs, who has now become the most experienced Manchester United player of all times. Scholes still had a bloody nose, possibly broken.
The referee blew after 90+2 minutes of normal time, and now the fans had to endure another 30 minutes. They had to fight to stay awake. Or, maybe not.
As extra time began, the atmosphere was phenomenally tense.
Chelsea's first substitution of the night was Florent Malouda, who was substituted by Salomon Kalou. Kalou immediately inspired an attack, and provided a ball for Frank Lampard, who struck the bar with a great shot on his left foot. United were lucky to be level.
Both sides could have had three goals by now. Oh how Chelsea and United were ruing those missed opportunities.
John Terry cleared off the line from a Ryan Giggs shot. Giggs hadn't struck the ball well enough, if he had, United would have been 2-1 up. A great play from United!
Wayne Rooney came off for Nani. Surprising substitution there. Carlos Tevez took aim from 20 yards out, but again, he hit it straight to the gloves of Petr Cech. At this point into extra time (13 minutes), both teams were hitting tired passes. Fitness was becoming vital.
Still 1-1 at the halfway point in extra-time. I was almost having a heart attack at this point! Nervous, to say the least.
It seemed that the players had blades instead of studs on their boots, which were struggling with the pitch. Surely that could have been assessed in training prior to the match?
A shot of Ashley Cole pumping his legs. He must be missing that at home. Sorry, but it was too tempting to resist.
Bit of a scuffle, and Drogba is SENT OFF! Slapping Vidic. What an absolute numpty of monumental proportions. I don't care who he is, you cannot do that. Ruined the occasion of the final in my opinion.
I was amazed as to why so many players needed to get involved. Both teams were to blame, but Chelsea ignited the situation. Heavy fines expected for both. More and more tired legs. Two minutes added on, again. Same all the way through.
Penalties it was. Fans were biting their nails; I was checking my heart rate.
Madness.
Anderson on for United, Beletti on for Chelsea. Obviously for penalties. Brown and Makelele came off respectively.
Everyone had cramp at some point. The season had taken it's toll on everyone.
Play-by-Play begins:
United was first, Tevez to take it. HE SCORES. 1-0 United.
Chelsea have their first. Ballack to take it. HE SCORES. 1-1.
Carrick. HE SCORES. 2-1 United.
Belletti. HE SCORES. 2-2.
Ronaldo. HE MISSES. Still 2-2.
Lampard. HE SCORES. 3-2 Chelsea.
Hargreaves. HE SCORES. 3-3.
A. Cole. HE SCORES. 4-3 Chelsea.
Nani. HE SCORES. 4-4.
Terry. HE MISSES. Still 4-4.
Anderson. HE SCORES. 5-4 United.
Kalou. HE SCORES. 5-5.
Giggs. HE SCORES. 6-5 United.
Anelka. HE MISSES!!!!!. 6-5 United are Champions of Europe again.
Frank Lampard was quoted as saying that United dominated "half an hour" and then Chelsea dominated the rest. Er, no mate. Yes, you dominated the second half, but Chelsea received the hiding of the season in the first half.
Was the pitch to blame for Terry's miss? We can't say, only he can, and he will.
So, Manchester United has done it. My heart can recover, and the fans will do their best to drink Moscow dry.
Finally, I have so much sympathy for the 2000 or so Chelsea fans that were stranded at Gatwick.
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