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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4 months ago
What Lampard said is incorrect. But Chelsea did murder United in the second half, the same way United murdered Chelsea in the first, as you pointed out. Chelsea, though for me, shaded the extra time period, in terms of pressure and urgence...
Both teams deserved to win it....
from 4 months ago
Indeed they did, personally, I can't remember such a bad performnce from United in the second half, and vice versa. United did seem that their mentality in ET was get to penalties. I was amazed by Anelka. He didn't seem that happy to be coming on, and didn't put a lot of effort into his penalty. I do feel for Terry though. He will think about that moment all summer now.
Well done to Chelsea. They got murdered, then handed out a murdering.
What a bloody match! I checked my heart rate, it actually got to 140 bpm!
from 4 months ago
Bruv, when JT stepped up to win the trophy for us, I thought this is too good to be true. I turned our to be right and he missed.
We have now completed a season of runner-up medals. Carling Cup, The League and now The Cl...
Heart Breaking stuff..
4 months ago
It was an Excitement Great Match between the two teams. Personally I support Manchester United but honestly Chelsea Soccer Team deserve WON the game but at the end of the day My Team Manchester United WON for Third Time the Hero for the night was the goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar good job But at the same time also we have to know the goal man in the beginning was Cristiano Ronaldo even if he missed a PENALTY...!!! Again in my opinion Both teams deserved to win it, unfortunately is only one WINNER Manchester United champion of Europe for the third time in their history.
from 4 months ago
both teams did deserve to win it, but as you said, there can only be one winner. and last night, it was United.
4 months ago
Both teams equally deserved the win. But one team had to lose. There were some fantastic performers on the pitch last night.
from 4 months ago
Ballack put in a great performance, but ferdinand got my nod for man of the match
4 months ago
great match and an awesome article...couldn't have written it any better
from 4 months ago
wow, thanks mate. appreciate that.
4 months ago
I feel for Chelsea, I really do.. The feeling of losing on penalties cannot be described in words.. but, unfortunately only one team can take home the trophy. I couldn't get to watch the match.. but it seems as if it was pretty even - and I just felt that it would go all the way down to the wire.. all in all great season for Man Utd - but they've got to be prepared for next season, because if they do win the super cup - then they're in for a long, long season which will be tough for them - just look at AC Milan and Barca people!
from 4 months ago
it was even, in terms of who murdered who. United murdered chelsea in the first half, but united in turn got murdered in the second half. United have the squad to put up with next season, so hopefully the wheels won't fall off the wagon.
4 months ago
i guess after riding their luck in the semis and erlier games,their luck simply ran out.
from 4 months ago
guess so. it amazes me that people are already talking of avaram grant being sacked this week. Sorry, but mourinho didn't get them to a CL Final did he? no. only a chelsea manager could get within goal difference of United, runner-up in the carling cup, and runner-up in the CL Final, and be sacked. A total injustice.
from 4 months ago
Kiran, quit being such an idiot! Your comments are so weak.. Are you saying United completely overpowered Barca? They completely dominated the semis did they? NO MY FRIEND. United were well and truly OUTPLAYED by Barca and in large parts of last night by Chelsea too...
So Hush Little Baby, you dont know what your saying..
4 months ago
How mature of Anderson to step and take a penalty. Just turned 20, hardly played lately, stood up and slotted it away. The pressure must have been immense.
I do feel for Chelsea. they were unlucky, but like Jeff said, one team had to lose. I thought overall, United deserved it. We could have been 3-0 before half time and if we had taken one of the other two chances, then I thought the game would have been killed off. But United didnt, and as usual made it hard on themselves, but overall a great performance by both.
Im floating on a cloud at the moment with happieness. We are the champions of Europe!!!!!!!!! YES!
from 4 months ago
20 years old, takes a penalty. amazing, i fluffed one a coupla of years ago, and i've never forgot it. the pressure must have been immense beyond imagination.
In my opinion, in their respective halves, both teams gave their best performances of the season.
4 months ago
the champions league final was just a summary of chelsea's season. it's in their hands at a time, next they thow it away. they had their chances, even better chances in the final but they bungled them. same in the league. when an opportunity comes fo them to level up, they waste it. they should face the consequences.
from 4 months ago
chelsea ran out of luck i guess. i love the fact that some chelsea fans are saying that they would have own the league and CL Final with mourinho. no, they wouldn't. simple as.
4 months ago
Anderson's penalty was his first touch of the match too. Well done young lad!!
from 4 months ago
Could say the same for Belletti but he's a bit of an old head. Salomon Kalou also held his nerve well after not featuring in 4 games before this one..
4 months ago
kalou and anderson showed maturity, something that someone else should have had on the night.
4 months ago
For those who are saying Chelsea should have been deserved the win doesnt convince me. As told by many of you both teams did deserve. This is bcs, if you look in to the fist half, utd should have scored three or four goals before chelsea rescued and reached to the final extra time. Of course, chelsea had some clear chances of scoring in the second half had it not been for the miss from last chances from Tevez.
Over all, the game was ballanced and the raod to the final for united was absolutely phenomenal and from this point of view i think they deserve to win and they Bravely have done it.
To be honest it was absolutely fantastic season for Reds!
from 4 months ago
put simply, had all chances gone in, we could have had 4-4 on our hands. i agree, both deserved to win, but one has to pip the other at the winning post.
4 months ago
United were undefeated in the Champions League this season. That doesn't happen every year for any team. Quite impressive and they're worthy winners.
from 4 months ago
The fact United were undefeated says it all really. Chelsea lost to Fenerbache, whereas United held off all competition, even barcelona, a game in which we got murdered in both legs.
Thanks for your views mate.
4 months ago
Not to mention United's away record before this season in the Champions League was dreadful to say the least. I can still recall away defeats against the likes of Lille, FC Copenhage, Benfica, and Celtic. Not that I'm saying they're bad teams but this season United was able to get the results away from home in the CL. It made a big difference. Even though they didn't actually manage to beat Barca and Lyon on away soil they were still great home and away.
from 4 months ago
that's true, some years i did wonder how the hell we got through the group stage. i think that alone shows how fergie has built an even better squad yet again.
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