 Two early
devastating goals from JSP & Ronaldo coupled with a
counter attacking third, destroyed Arsenal at the
Emirates on Tuesday night, booking United into back to
back Champions League Finals, where the Reds opponents
will be FC Barcelona.
After much
dischuffedness in the West Cumbria Reds travelling
contingent at the fact we were stuck in a massive tail
back due to an overturned Lorry with Chemicals involved,
we all just an so managed to make kick off once the
blockage was removed some hours later.
With a delay of
three hours, time past slowly by as the grass verge
became frequented with the Cider Drinkers emptying their
various sacks & throwing various stones at a metal drum
hidden deep in the bushes, your reporter was also
subjected to a dirty Les Kellett style wrestling blow
(from behind) to the left leg as Tanner Penn mashed my
camouflaged knee into the unrelenting concrete road
before dragging my knee cap over the sharp gravel.
Your reporter then not unlike Charles Dickens' Tiny Tim, limped back to
the bus for the remaining journey to Stanmore Station,
where we were to catch the tube into London.
 With only an
hour to spare we arrived at the Emirates welcomed by
what the Arse had generously given to their fans in the
form of 57 thousand flags, flags which were only used
for 11 minutes.
SAF opted to leave out both Tevez & Berbatov & go for
the hard working JSP, coupled with Fletcher, Anderson &
Carrick in a vastly impressive midfield.
The game as
everyone knew should have been out of site in the 1st
leg were it not for Almunia in the Gunners goal & the
Spaniard/Englander who was awesome at Old Trafford would
as the game unfolded, keep his side in the tie.
However, he was helpless to intervene when JSP lifted
his shot over Almunia, United's away goal came before the
ten minute mark as Rooney nodded a ball to Anderson in
space in the left midfield area, he rolled a pass into
the run of Ronaldo before the Portuguese forward crossed
a left footed ball across goal.
Football usually always is a cruel game as Kieran Gibbs
lost his footing on the well watered Emirates
Arsenal pitch & capitalising to the max, JSP converted
for the priceless goal.
 Van Persie arguably committed a foul on Ronaldo 41 yards
out on the right and as we reported against Porto to
call this free kick anything more than ridiculous was a
crime, but defying the Gods and at the right time of the
season, up stepped the gun slinger to make the air
whistle as his arrow struck the bulls eye giving his
team an insurmountable lead.
The goal now forced Arsenal to require just the paltry
sum of four goals on the night to obtain passage & this
fact became more than many could handle as your reporter
who was situated next to the Arse fans witnessed many
leave with still 79 minutes left.
With a double
mammoth of a job ahead, the Gunners knew they would be
susceptible at the back, as they searched for goals &
United began to exploit this gaping chink in their
already dismantled & well battered armour.
Almunia saved a curling shot from Wayne Rooney before
Cristiano Ronaldo headed just wide from an Anderson
corner.
And
United continued to dictate the pace of the game at the
same time restricting Arsenal to scraps & 1/4 chances as
Ronaldo smashed two powerful free kicks forcing Almunia
into fine gathering saves.
Emmanuel Eboue
replaced 19 year old Gibbs for the second half just as
the Police sniffer dogs were sent to the Executive seats
of the Stadium due to a unidentified bag/package being
found &
shortly after, Almunia again saved a United explosion, as
Ronaldo skipped in from the right to force the Arsenal
keeper to demonstrate a strong hand as he saved Ronaldo's low shot.
 Arsenal
were struggling to muster up anything in the way of a
chance as Theo Walcott did a fine impression of his
impact at the last
world cup, Adebayor & Fabregas, Nasri & Van Persie did
little in the way of forcing anything as United
continued to keep a comfortable status.
Arsenal briefly flickered with a patch of crosses &
passes in the United box before a headed clearance by
Vidic sent United on a disturbing counter attack started
by a Cristiano Ronaldo flick to JSP, highlights
including destroying Eboue for pace & eventually
latching on to Wayne Rooney's assist for number three on
the night as United firmly extinguished any hope of a
Arsenal miracle.
Either side of a Van Persie powerful shot, SAF then used
his substitutes to max effect as Anderson & more
importantly Evra & Rooney guaranteed themselves a start
in Rome as they were spared any more time of the yellow
card tightrope.
The dark point of night came next for United as Darren
Fletcher saw red for a nothing challenge on Fabregas,
the replays showed Fletcher had touched the ball, but
however the Italian referee saw fit to dismiss the
unlucky Scot.
Van Persie stepped up & converted an unsaveable penalty,
but his night was short lived after he caught an elbow
from Vidic and was substituted.
With SAF remonstrating with the fourth official due to
Fletchers Red card, the Scot not one to need an excuse
was shocked as many others were as Adebyaor showed a
disgraceful challenge on Carrick which could have broken
the Geordies leg.
After the moaning & complaining Wenger did when Eduardo
broke his leg, Adebayor was & is a f*ckin disgrace for
this tackle & should be punished, however he only
received a yellow, whilst Fletcher misses out on a
Final.
One more scorching free kick went just above Almunia's
goal before another landed in Highbury & then the final
whistle was blown seeing United packing for Rome &
Arsenal not.
A big up goes
to Tony Fish, Mark Fish & Russell Davey from Scunthorpe.
Alex Smith, Rudi & Roni from the Dutch Mancunians.
|
The Drivers, your efforts are appreciated guys |
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|
Manc Grant |
Toddy |
Abbott |
Calvin |
|
The Rest |
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Steve
"Lungs"
Power |
Young Winterbottom
Thommo |
Niffy |
Mike |
Penn |
Patty |
Craig Adams |
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|
the
tastiest Corn based snack on the market |
Strongbow,
Sponsor of Grant Thompson |
IF
YOU EVER ARE IN LONDON
 If
you ever do fancy a night out where you can drink till
4am on a week day & take home a Fish Supper in the wee
hours, then the place we stumbled upon in Camden Town
was a gem.
With a traditional Fish & Chip shop cunningly disguising
the "Titty Twister" type bar in a back room, the
Marathon Restaurant is something else.
Rockabilly 1950's music performed live by one man on a
guitar & Students so high even Angels
would fear to tread there, the place is a must.
What do you think....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW. |
Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.
Van Persie (pen 76 mins).
