Classy Barca Outshine Manchester United To Win the Champions League

Manchester United 0, Barcelona 2

Champions League Final, May 27, 2009. Longer highlights here. The opening ceremony can be seen here.

After Manchester United put in all the early running in Rome, Ronaldo striking the target with a rasping free-kick after two minutes before he had two further chances in the opening ten minutes, it was Barca who snatched the lead with their first attack of the game.

Iniesta carried the ball into the final third, played in Samuel Eto’o in the box, and the Cameroonian beat Vidic before firing past Van der Sar.

Giggs sent a  free-kick over the bar as United looked for the leveller. (First half highlights here.)

Thierry Henry was foiled by Van der Sar, before Xavi crashed a free-kick against the United post, as Barca came flying out the traps early in the second half. And in the 70th minute the Catalans bagged their second, Xavi picked out an unmarked Lionel Messi in the box and the Argentine rose high to head home.

Barcelona’s trophy and post match celebrations can be seen here.

Japan 4 - Chile 0

Kirin Cup, May 27, 2009

Shinji Okazaki put Japan ahead in the 20th minute when he capitalised on a rebound in the Chile box, and the Shimizu S-Pulse forward doubled the lead just four minutes later, collecting a through-ball from Nakazawa and beating Pinto with an angled shot. Yuki Abe put the game out of reach seven minutes after the break with a header off a Yasuhito Endo corner. Keisuke Honda added the fourth in stoppage time to complete the rout.

Beitar Jerusalem 2-Maccabi Haifa 1

Israeli State Cup final, May 26, 2009

Christian Alvarez headed Beitar into the lead from an Idan Tal cross in the 19th minute and Aviram Barukhyan made it 2-nil seven minutes before halftime when he pounced on a fumble from Haifa keeper Nir Davidovich. Biram Kayal scored a consolation penalty for Haifa in the 89th minute, but it was too little, too late as Beitar retained the cup.

Perspolis 0-Bunyodkor 1

Asian Champions League, May 27, 2009

He maybe ancient, but Rivaldo proved he can still score from 12 yards as he comfortably tucked home a penalty in the 41st minute. Bunyodkor progress to the quarter-finals.