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Article by Mark
Graham, Stats Nerd
Manchester United 1
v 1 Chelsea, Luzhniki
Stadium, 19.45pm, Wednesday 21st May
2008.
Goals:
Manchester United:
Ronaldo (26) - Chelsea:
Lampard (45).
Manchester United win 6-5 on penalties.
Attendance: 69,552
 An
Unnamed United player said "The European Cup is like a
Chocolate Orange, its not Terry's......its mine!!!!
The 2007/08 football season began with Manchester United
beating Chelsea on penalties & ironically finished the
same way as the European Cup was Manchester bound after
the game was decided in Moscow in the cruellest of
circumstance.
SAF opted to play a 4-4-2 with Owen Hargreaves deployed on
the right & Ronaldo on the left, with Scholes & Carrick in
the central midfield areas, Wayne Rooney was partnered with Carlos
Tevez as United played the much preferred tactic of the
fans.
 United
had much the better of a 1st half that saw the Reds
eventually dominate proceedings and as the game settled
after 20 minutes of both teams "feeling each other out"
a
flashpoint then occurred as both Paul Scholes & Claude Makelele
were yellow carded after both players clashed while
jumping for possession of the ball, upon the referee
blowing his whistle several Chelsea players remonstrated
with the referee causing ugly scenes as Ashley "Arse Hole"
Cole got involved resulting in a push from Rooney.
German midfielder Ballack seemingly incensed at every
single decision was lucky throughout the match not to be
sent off ala Mascherano as time and time again he was
clearly observed screaming into the face of the referee.
After Scholes then received treatment for a bloodied nose the game continued.
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Nice
hat Commerade Evra |
Chelsea then
forced Vidic into a headed clearance and after clearing
the resulting corner, United then then moved the ball deep
into Chelsea territory at the right corner flag where
Owen Hargreaves won a throw in.
Wes Brown taking the throw, fed Scholes who one-twoed with
the United defender and Brown crossed with his left foot from
outside the box straight onto the head of the rising
Ronaldo who had given Essien the slip at the same time
scoring his 42nd goal of his magnificent season.
United finding success on the flanks with Owen
Hargreaves & in particular Ronaldo were in total control
until Van der Sar was
forced into a save after hesitancy from Rio Ferdinand.
Holding off Hargreaves, Fat Frank Lampard delivered a
tempting ball to the far post where Rollerskate wearing
Drogba headed into the danger area, Ferdinand shielding
Ballack from getting anywhere near the ball and fully
expecting his keeper to collect the ball from danger,
was as replays showed then fouled by Ballack as his header
forced EVDS to react impressively pawing the goal bound
effort away from danger as the referee allowed play to
continue.
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You look a bit familiar |
Immediately
following the Chelsea chance, United might well, were it
not for goalkeeper Cech have scored the goal of the decade
in a breathtaking counter attack as Rooney deep in his own
half & helping out
his defence took possession from Carvalho & switching
flanks, pinged a 50 yard ball to Ronaldo who had escaped
Essien. Ronaldo crossed the ball for Tevez who
spectacularly with a diving header, aimed his effort goal
bound only for Cech to save, John Terry with a weak
clearance then could only hook the ball to Michael Carrick on the
edge of the area and the Geordie midfielder was denied by brilliant keeping
again.
Carlos
Tevez then had a glorious opportunity from close range minutes later
as Hargreaves slotted a pass to Rooney, The White Pele in
a wide right position nutmegged Carvalho with a driving
low cross which Claude Makelele looked to have snuffed
out, Tevez anticipating the Frenchman would reach the
cross had hesitated for slight second enough to put the
striker off from
getting any sort of touch.
With only minutes to
go before half time and United 1-0 up and regretting key
missed chances against a team who thrive on this
particular situation, Chelsea took the wind out of
United's sails after another enormous slice of luck saw a
hit and hope long distance effort from Essien deflected of
both Vidic & Ferdinand, not content with this, fate also
made EVDS slip giving United
no chance as Frank Lampard clipped the ball passed EVDS
for the equaliser.
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Its
close to Midnight,
there's something Evil
lurks in Gorky Park |
SAF bollocked
Slovak Referee Luboš
Michĕl before the game resumed but a bad time to
concede for the Reds saw the game change dramatically as
Chelsea were far the better side for the 2nd half but with out
really giving United any danger.
Chelsea continued to embarrass themselves complaining to the referee with Joe Cole
& mostly Ballack screaming in the face of the official as
the pair continued to disagreed with all decisions.
A break from United had Evra on the left loft a pass high
over the heads on the United attackers as Wayne Rooney
showed his disbelieve as he gestured to the Frenchman to
play it low.
Chelsea replied with Essien giving Ronaldo the slip on a
attack, and as Ronaldo tried to cut out the pass toward the
full back, upon the forward missing his tackle, Essien made himself space moving onto
his left foot & shooting over disappointingly. The
West Londoners saw a header go wide from Drogba who was
shackled extremely well by Vidic & a Ballack wild shot as
they took hold of the game in midfield.
A dangerous free kick was deal with & hooked clear of danger by
Carrick as United continued to defend well.
Frank Lampard &
Rio Ferdinand then felt the force of the heavy re-laid
pitch as they both required treatment for cramp.
The game resumed with Carlos Tevez giving Makelele a left
hook as the two collided in the Chelsea penalty box, The
Frenchman required smelling salts as he slowly recovered.
 SAF then gave United the signal of 4-5-1/4-3-3 as Rooney
took his position wide & Hargreaves central to try to
combat the dominance of Lampard & Ballack in the midfield.
Shortly afterwards Drogba struck a post for Chelsea before SAF
brought on Ryan Giggs for Scholes.
Chelsea sent on Salomon Kalou for Malouda &
the 1st period of extra time had woodwork eerily like
Barcelona 99 rattled again as Michael Ballack set up
Lampard, United replied with John Terry steering wide with his
head Ryan Giggs's attempt after Evra had burst into the Chelsea
box, but neither side could make the required break through
to enable their respective team to lift "Old Big Ears"
just yet.
SAF subbed
Wayne Rooney for Nani in the closing stages and the game
finally boiled over after
Drogba was sent off by referee Michel for slapping Vidic
in the face, after the referee had restored order time had
ran out for both teams & the European Cup would be decided
on penalties.
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PENALTY SHOOTOUT |
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MAN
UTD |
Tevez |
Carrick |
Ronaldo |
Hargreaves |
Nani |
Anderson |
Giggs |
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| |
 |
|
X |
|
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6 |
|
CHELSEA |
Ballack |
Belletti |
Lampard |
A.Cole |
Terry |
Kalou |
Anelka |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
X |
5 |
Tevez and Carrick
both scored for United as did Ballack & Belletti before
Ronaldo of all people missed for United as Cech saved.
Frank Lampard then gave Chelsea the advantage.
Owen Hargreaves
scored as United couldn't afford anymore mistakes & Ashley Cole's penalty
made it four in a row for Chelsea who stood on the brink
of winning the trophy.
Youngster
Nani scored before John Terry was given a potential
supernatural nudge from a Busby Babe watching from above (HAHAHHAHA)
as the Chelsea captain slipped missing his penalty and
striking a post.
Anderson and Kalou matched each other kick for kick before
Ryan Giggs converted leaving pressure on Anelka.
EVDS then became the toast of Manchester as he guessed
correctly the way Anelka would take his kick sending All
Things Red into raptures & crowning Manchester United the
Champions of Europe for a third time.
EVDS saves from the Incredible Sulk
The crop of
current Manchester United players may have not honoured
the Busby Babes with the correct result or performance at
Old Trafford this season, but our Flowers of Manchester tonight
50 years on..............as a fitting tribute this was for
you!!!!!!
What do you
think??
submit
your comments & opinions
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