Kings Of Europe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So it was here atlast, the UEFA Champions League Finals, in Moscow.
After all the agonizing time we had to wait for the biggest spectacle in Club Football, it was finally here, and how.
The footballers would have been forgiven, had they have gone in and played slowly and defensively...
But all credit to both sets of players and managers, for producing the amazing match that was the Champions League Finals.
Before the match had even begun, there was speculative talk about the pitch in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, for the turf was "imported" from Slovakia specially for this match, it was laid a mere 20 or so days ago.
I'm no pitch expert but, the turf required a few more days of "bedding in" for many players were slipping all over the place, whatever the doubts about the pitch were, they were down played by both managers.
This was the biggest match for most of the players, with United having the experience of begin in the Final twice and winning them both, was this going to be a hat-trick for the Reds? Only time would tell.
As for Chelsea, what a marvellous feat, this was their first UEFA Champions League Final. If you think of it, they were under a different manager , when the tournament started. Full credit to Avram Grant for doing what the self proclaimed "Chosen One" ie., José Mourinho couldnt do, lead Chelsea into the Finals of the biggest club competition in the world.
The game started fairly openly, with both sets of players not begin afraid to attack. Most people thought Sir Alex, would go with either a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 formation. Avram Grant made his strategies with these formations in mind. But Sir Alex, like he usually does, surprised all by bring out a regulation 4-4-2 formation with C.Ronaldo and Hargreaves as the wingers, Scholes and Carrick making up the central mid-field, and Tevez and Rooney as the 2 forwards.
The first half was all United's as they put togather one attack after another, breaking the Chelsea back four quite regularly, with their smooth and skillful passing.


At the 26th minute, United struck with the help of intricate pasing between Wes Brown and Paul Scholes, Brown then sent a delicious pass that hung in the air perfectly for C.Ronaldo who headed in a absoulte cracker of a goal to give United the lead.This was his first goal against Chelsea, and what a perfect occasion to get it!
Then United piled on the pressure with superb breaks that left Chelsea wide open. Chelsea could have easily gone down 3-0 within the opening 30 miutes, but for some fine saving by Petr Cech.
Then out of the blue, there came Essein of Chelsea and blasted a shot that took two deflections and sat perfectly for Frank Lampard, who scored a goal in the 45th minute, things werent helped by the fact the Edwin Van der Saar slipped while scurring for the ball.


The second half saw the revival of Chelsea who in the first half somehow could not get going but for the goal, they started to dominate possession with United being second best throughtout the second half. Then there was a lean spelling when neither team looked like scoring. At about the 76th minute, Didier Drogba let one fly, he had Van der Saar beat, but was denied by the wood work! The second half was nearing its end, with Extra Time seeming inevitable. In came Ryan Giggs, on for Wayne Rooney, his 769th appearence for United, a club record!!
This was the end of the Normal Time, after a short break, the extra time started with two halves of 15 minutes each. The result would be decided in this time or it would go down to Penalties!
Extra Time started and after a few minutes play United could have won it had Giggs connected well, from a superb run of Evra. Terry came to their rescue, again! Extra Time was ending thick and fast, then all of a sudden the Chelsea players surrounded the refree over a minisclue matter and this led to a small fight between Drogba and Vidic, Drogba seemingly having slapped Vidic right in front of the refree, it was a straight Red Card for Drogba, what a disgrace!!, it all was going well for 2 or so hours......In all this, extra time was nearing the end.


And when Penalties was inevitable, both managers made substituitions with the spot kicks in mind, Sir Alex bringing on Anderson.
The penalty was taken in front of the United side of the crowd, first chance fell to United and Tevez was up for the challenge sending Cech the wrong way, it was 1-0 for United. Up came Ballack for Chelsea he was too up for it, scoring even though Van der Saar went the right way. It was all square again with 1-1. Next up was Carrick he too scored again taking United into the lead 2-1. Out came Belletti again equallising 2-2. Then came Ronaldo, surely he would score, but guess what he didnt! Yes the man who scored 42 goals this season missed his penalty, surely he thought United would lose! Score remained at 2-2.


Then it was Lampard who smashed in the penalty, helping Chelsea take the lead for the first time. It was 2-3 for Chelsea.
Then came Hargreaves who scored a cracker taking United level to 3-3. Ashley Cole came out for Chelsea, he again scored taking the score to 4-3. Next came Nani, it was upto him, it was sudden death, if he missed the title would be Chelsea's, if he scored they still would be in it. With seemingly insurmountable pressure and United's final spot kick, scores he does. Score line again 4-4. Next came John Terry, captain of Chelsea, surely now, Chelsea would be crowned Champions..... Well fate had written a different story, one with a million twists. Terry calmly came in, took the penalty but during his run-up, he slipped and even though Van der Saar went the wrong way the ball hit the wood work and went out and United were saved!!!!!!!!! And the Chelsea contigent could not believe what just happened!!! Terry was still lying motionless on the ground.


Scoreline still remained at 4-4!!!!! United were given a life line, perhaps by the souls of the Busby Babes, this day marked the 50th Anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster.......
Next came in the 19 year old Anderson, who and never scored from normal play for United, he stepped up and smashed in the penalty with the scoreline now reading 5-4 in favour of United, now all the pressure shifted towards Chelsea. In came, Solomon Kalou and scored the penalty, score line now read 5-5. Next came in the veteran Giggs, with immense experience, he was the perfect man for the job, scoring a superb penalty. scoreline was now 6-5. Since this was sudden death, the first team that missed would hand over the title to their opponents.....
Up came Nicolas Anelka for Chelsea, he seemed calm enough to slot home a goal, but whats this??? Van der Saar has saved the penalty!!!!! He has won the Champions League for United!!!!!!!!!!
MANCHESTER UNITED ARE THE NEW EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


What joy, what glory, what an achievement!!!!!!!!
And i Cried!!!!! I really really cried!!!!!!
The scenes after, were the one of pure joy for all things United, and complete despair for all things Chelsea............
And poor John Terry was inconsolable!!! I really felt for Terry, better luck mate........
This was United's third final and they won all of them.....So they DID pull of a hat-trick!!!!!!!


Scenes followed, that one would never forget, moments to savour for life!!!!
Well done lads, you deserve it...
United hadn't lost a single match before the finals and that recored remained intact!!!!
Really, they completely deserve this, all of the them..... The whole team, managers, couching staff, scouts and all associated with Manchester United!!!!!!!!!!!!
GLORY, GLORY MAN UNITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Campione Campione oye oye oye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a dream season, what a dream double, What a dream team!!!!!!
Well done boys and congratulations!!!!!!


Until next time this is nuspeed screaming my lungs out, cheering for man united........
Cyaaa and take care...........
Choooooooooo...................

aww!! | NuSpeeD