Kevin LustigCL Final Wrap Up: Moscow Magic for Manchester United
May 21st 2008 22:58
On the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, Manchester United have won the 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League by besting Chelsea 6-5 in a nail-biting penalty shootout. Overcoming a shocking miss by Cristiano Ronaldo, Edwin Van der Sar came up big for the Red Devils when it counted most, blocking Nicolas Anelka's try to deliver the second European championship that Sir Alex Ferguson has sought so keenly since his club's famous win in 1999. A slip by John Terry led to the other penalty miss for Chelsea. The scrappy, battling game was locked up at 1-1 going into penalty kicks, the goals having come from Ronaldo and Chelsea's Frank Lampard in the first half.
Recap:
First half:
The game was assured to be an even one going in, but many predicted that it would be a open, free-flowing game with plenty of chances. If it was going to become such a match, it certainly didn't begin that way. There were very few strings of possession, Manchester United relying most on the long ball to try to create chances. Neither team looked particularly lethal in the final ten yards, and the nerves of the event, combined with a slow, wet pitch, kept the game from breaking open. Seeming to be particularly uncomfortable were Man U's Owen Hargreaves, pushing much farther forward on than right than he's accustomed to, and Michael Ballack for Chelsea, who didn't touch the ball for about 15 minutes. Spells of overeagerness, with balls flying out of bounds, alternated with cageyness to create very few opportunities. A nasty collision between Florent Malouda and Paul Scholes left Scholes bloodied and both teams seething, but nothing came of it as Cech booted the resulting free kick across the sideline. It was not destined to be the only incident proving that there was no love lost between the teams.
Finally, the fans around the world got a goal. In the 26th minute, a Wes Brown cross became a Cristiano Ronaldo header that left Peter Cech flatfooted, putting Manchester United on the score sheet. More than simply putting the Red Devils in front, however, the goal woke both clubs up and the speed and energy in the Luzhniki Stadium picked up noticeably. As the goal proved, there was very little between the teams, but what little there was belonged to Manchester United. Soon after, in the 34th minute, an alert crowd was treated to two great shots on goal by Manchester United, a header by Tevez and a bullet by Michael Carrick, requiring, and getting, quick reactions from Cech. Chelsea responded to the sudden burst of activity on their end by putting pressure on Manchester United, including a clever connection between John Terry and Ashley Cole on the left side edge of the goal box that only some hard work by Wes Brown could defuse. Owen Hargreaves sprung Manchester United out of the pressure, feeding Rooney who then sent a spot-on cross in to Tevez. An off-balance Tevez couldn't finish, though, and the ball rolled harmlessly over the line.
A Rio Ferdinand foul on Frank Lampard a hairsbreadth from the penalty area in the 43rd minute gave Chelsea their first real chance of the first half, but Michael Ballack couldn't quite get the ball to curl into the net. Chelsea fans weren't disappointed for long. Frank Lampard made up for the missed chance with a goal just over a minute later, threading his way through two Manchester United defenders to find the ball in the box and knock it over a sprawling Van der Sar into the net. A couple of major mistakes by United defenders, most notably Rio Ferdinand, who allowed the ball to bounce off his back into Lampard's path, and an uncharacteristic lack of balance on the Dutch goalkeeper's part did much to help Lampard pull Chelsea level. The score could very easily have been 3-0 to Manchester United going into the break. Instead, the clubs were all tied up, 1-1, at the halfway mark.
Second half:
A slow, studied start to the second half saw Manchester United passing the ball in calculated patterns, looking as though Sir Alex Ferguson had stressed the importance of the Red Devils keeping their head, something they distinctly failed to do in the closing minutes of the first half. Chelsea looked like they needed a few minutes just to get their bearings, and they spent most of the opening minutes of the second half chasing the ball and fouling Manchester United players. Chelsea finally got their tactics sorted out, which served to even the match. Chances remained wanting until Michel Essien totally stymied Cristiano Ronaldo, giving himself plenty of space with a clear look at the net. Yet, wasting a lot of effort and some great footwork, the Frenchman lofted the ball well over the net. Shortly after, a Frank Lampard corner to Dider Drogba's forehead and a Michael Ballack volley both came close to adding to the score before going over the line harmlessly. No goals came but Chelsea did everything but score, and Manchester United were finding it more and more difficult to get the ball and keep it. As they did, Manchester United fans in Moscow were surely feeling more and more wistful about those missed opportunities in the first half.
Then, a breather. Rio Ferdinand went down with a leg cramp, the result of a slushy surface and the extra effort the players were expending to stay upright on it. Man U seemed to have a little more energy after this pit stop, earning a little bit more time with the ball, but goalscoring opportunities remained thin on the ground. A remarkable shot from Didier Drogba from distance added a little electricity to the Russian air when it hit the post at what looked like light speed. But the real focal point of the second half, and the biggest factor in the run of play, seemed to be the surface. New turf, brought in specially for this game, seemed to give easily, leading to a lot of tired legs and an unpredictable ball. It was no surprise, then, when Ryan Giggs took Paul Scholes' place on the pitch in the 87th minute. In doing so, Giggs set the appearances record for Manchester United, having appeared for the squad an amazing 759 times. In the end, a pair of fresh legs and ninety minutes weren't enough to separate the sides. Stoppage time came and went with no result. The match headed to the extra periods well past midnight in Moscow.
Extra time:
Manchester United started the extra period with a bit more pluck than Chelsea, but Solomon Kalou came on for Malouda after just a couple of minutes hoping to rectify that. His presence helped to create a chance for Frank Lampard that, inches lower, would have been a fantastic goal and a possible game-winner, but neither that shot nor a Ballack follow-up could break the impasse. Tension layered with frustration defined the tenor of the match. If there was a better squad on the pitch, they weren't showing it. Nicolas Anelka replaced Joe Cole after eight minutes hoping to solve the puzzle. Yet, it wasn't Anelka, but rather captain John Terry, who performed heroically for Chelsea in the next minute. Ryan Giggs found himself on the end of a pass by Patrice Evra with Cech on the ground and an open net, but Terry somehow contorted his body in the air to put a head between the ball and a sure Manchester United goal. A swap between Rooney and Nani for Manchester United followed soon after, but it wasn't the answer the Devils were seeking in the first extra period.
The second fifteen minute period saw more of the same combative play. Neither side gave an inch, and neither club could seem to earn one. Possession, passing, fouls and shots went both ways. If it hadn't been clear before this period, it was obvious now: Manchester United and Chelsea were extremely well-matched squads. They had battled for the 'best in England' title, and now they battled for the rights to call themselves best in Europe, if not best in the world. This profound truth wasn't lost on a single player as they sent the ball upfield and down, looking for a break. A blistering shot from a free-kick was Drogba's contribution. A Tevez run and the hardworking Ronaldo couldn't make the difference. Both squads had players on the ground with cramps at every pause.
Finally, the tension boiled over. Ballack and Tevez began a shoving match, quickly enveloping both squads. In the midst of the row, Didier Drogba gave Nemanja Vidic a slap in the face, and that was enough to end his night. Tevez and Ballack both came away from the tussle with yellow cards, but Chelsea suffered most as they suddenly had only 10 players to hold back the tide. Manchester United tried and failed to press their advantage, and the match came to a stop again when Nani and Ashley Cole clattered together in the Chelsea box, clashing heads violently. The injuries ate up the rest of the period, leaving only time for Chelsea to sub Belletti in for Makelele and Manchester United to send Anderson in for Wes Brown, prepping their squads for the penalty shootout that was sure to come. Come it did.
Penalties:
Manchester United won the coin toss, electing to kick first and to take the penalties on the drier end of the pitch, a decision that Chelsea was sure to agree with after the difficulty both sides had with the failing surface. Tevez, Ballack, Carrick and Belletti kept their nerve and kept their sides even. The Boy Wonder, Cristiano Ronaldo, this Champions League season's top scorer, was next, sauntering to the spot to make one final contribution to the Reds' campaign. But then, his fairy-tale season went off the script: Cech stretched out his hand and denied the Portuguese winger. Ronaldo, along with thousands of Manchester United players, managers, and fans, were stunned. Advantage, Chelsea.
Lampard, Hargreaves, Ashley Cole and Nani did their part, finding the back of the net to keep their teams in it. Then came the moment of truth. The seasoned John Terry, Chelsea captain, came forward with the chance to win the Champions League. But it was not to be. Alas, tonight's twelfth man, the Moscow arena's tragic pitch, left John Terry slipping to the ground and the ball out of the net. Suddenly, the teams found themselves tied - again - and Anderson, Kalou and Giggs kept the match even. Nicolas Anelka took to the spot needing to score to keep Chelsea's championship hopes alive. But in a duel between a proven goalscorer and a proven goalkeeper, the keeper was the hero tonight. Van der Sar palmed Anelka's shot to the side, and Manchester United were champions of Europe.
Summary:
Was this match a Champions League classic? Perhaps not. The midnight hour and the impotent pitch were always going to be obstacles, and the match was further marred by the fights that always threated to, and occasionally did, break out between the blue and red clubs. But you could not have asked for a match between teams of more even ability. This was the best vs. the best, pure and simple, and isn't that what the Champions League is all about? Manchester United won because one club had to win at the end of the night. Looking back, it might be possible to see a few more chances for United than for Chelsea, but matches aren't won on chances created. They're won on chances converted, and tonight, Manchester United converted just one more chance than did Chelsea. It could easily have been the other way round. Chelsea fans should be proud of their club, even though sadly it seems likely to fall apart somewhat during the summer, and Chelsea players should know they fought this one, for all intents and purposes, to a draw. That will be little consolation, unfortunately, as they watch Manchester United raising their second major trophy this season. Tonight, one of the best teams in the world won, but one of the best teams in the world also lost. Sporting impulses will make fans eager to declare one the absolute best, but from what I saw, that task is virtually impossible. This match may not be remembered well in the annals of Champions League history, but these teams will not soon be forgotten.
Just like the difficulty of declaring which team was better, there is a huge challenge in naming a single player that stood out. However, with a slight edge, Man of the Match goes to Edwin Van der Sar. In the one moment that made a difference, Van der Sar stepped up. If not for that penalty save, I'd be writing about how Manchester United's great play should be a consolation to them. Congratulations on adding a second Champions League medal to your trophy case!
Recap:
First half:
The game was assured to be an even one going in, but many predicted that it would be a open, free-flowing game with plenty of chances. If it was going to become such a match, it certainly didn't begin that way. There were very few strings of possession, Manchester United relying most on the long ball to try to create chances. Neither team looked particularly lethal in the final ten yards, and the nerves of the event, combined with a slow, wet pitch, kept the game from breaking open. Seeming to be particularly uncomfortable were Man U's Owen Hargreaves, pushing much farther forward on than right than he's accustomed to, and Michael Ballack for Chelsea, who didn't touch the ball for about 15 minutes. Spells of overeagerness, with balls flying out of bounds, alternated with cageyness to create very few opportunities. A nasty collision between Florent Malouda and Paul Scholes left Scholes bloodied and both teams seething, but nothing came of it as Cech booted the resulting free kick across the sideline. It was not destined to be the only incident proving that there was no love lost between the teams.
Finally, the fans around the world got a goal. In the 26th minute, a Wes Brown cross became a Cristiano Ronaldo header that left Peter Cech flatfooted, putting Manchester United on the score sheet. More than simply putting the Red Devils in front, however, the goal woke both clubs up and the speed and energy in the Luzhniki Stadium picked up noticeably. As the goal proved, there was very little between the teams, but what little there was belonged to Manchester United. Soon after, in the 34th minute, an alert crowd was treated to two great shots on goal by Manchester United, a header by Tevez and a bullet by Michael Carrick, requiring, and getting, quick reactions from Cech. Chelsea responded to the sudden burst of activity on their end by putting pressure on Manchester United, including a clever connection between John Terry and Ashley Cole on the left side edge of the goal box that only some hard work by Wes Brown could defuse. Owen Hargreaves sprung Manchester United out of the pressure, feeding Rooney who then sent a spot-on cross in to Tevez. An off-balance Tevez couldn't finish, though, and the ball rolled harmlessly over the line.
A Rio Ferdinand foul on Frank Lampard a hairsbreadth from the penalty area in the 43rd minute gave Chelsea their first real chance of the first half, but Michael Ballack couldn't quite get the ball to curl into the net. Chelsea fans weren't disappointed for long. Frank Lampard made up for the missed chance with a goal just over a minute later, threading his way through two Manchester United defenders to find the ball in the box and knock it over a sprawling Van der Sar into the net. A couple of major mistakes by United defenders, most notably Rio Ferdinand, who allowed the ball to bounce off his back into Lampard's path, and an uncharacteristic lack of balance on the Dutch goalkeeper's part did much to help Lampard pull Chelsea level. The score could very easily have been 3-0 to Manchester United going into the break. Instead, the clubs were all tied up, 1-1, at the halfway mark.
Second half:
A slow, studied start to the second half saw Manchester United passing the ball in calculated patterns, looking as though Sir Alex Ferguson had stressed the importance of the Red Devils keeping their head, something they distinctly failed to do in the closing minutes of the first half. Chelsea looked like they needed a few minutes just to get their bearings, and they spent most of the opening minutes of the second half chasing the ball and fouling Manchester United players. Chelsea finally got their tactics sorted out, which served to even the match. Chances remained wanting until Michel Essien totally stymied Cristiano Ronaldo, giving himself plenty of space with a clear look at the net. Yet, wasting a lot of effort and some great footwork, the Frenchman lofted the ball well over the net. Shortly after, a Frank Lampard corner to Dider Drogba's forehead and a Michael Ballack volley both came close to adding to the score before going over the line harmlessly. No goals came but Chelsea did everything but score, and Manchester United were finding it more and more difficult to get the ball and keep it. As they did, Manchester United fans in Moscow were surely feeling more and more wistful about those missed opportunities in the first half.
Then, a breather. Rio Ferdinand went down with a leg cramp, the result of a slushy surface and the extra effort the players were expending to stay upright on it. Man U seemed to have a little more energy after this pit stop, earning a little bit more time with the ball, but goalscoring opportunities remained thin on the ground. A remarkable shot from Didier Drogba from distance added a little electricity to the Russian air when it hit the post at what looked like light speed. But the real focal point of the second half, and the biggest factor in the run of play, seemed to be the surface. New turf, brought in specially for this game, seemed to give easily, leading to a lot of tired legs and an unpredictable ball. It was no surprise, then, when Ryan Giggs took Paul Scholes' place on the pitch in the 87th minute. In doing so, Giggs set the appearances record for Manchester United, having appeared for the squad an amazing 759 times. In the end, a pair of fresh legs and ninety minutes weren't enough to separate the sides. Stoppage time came and went with no result. The match headed to the extra periods well past midnight in Moscow.
Extra time:
Manchester United started the extra period with a bit more pluck than Chelsea, but Solomon Kalou came on for Malouda after just a couple of minutes hoping to rectify that. His presence helped to create a chance for Frank Lampard that, inches lower, would have been a fantastic goal and a possible game-winner, but neither that shot nor a Ballack follow-up could break the impasse. Tension layered with frustration defined the tenor of the match. If there was a better squad on the pitch, they weren't showing it. Nicolas Anelka replaced Joe Cole after eight minutes hoping to solve the puzzle. Yet, it wasn't Anelka, but rather captain John Terry, who performed heroically for Chelsea in the next minute. Ryan Giggs found himself on the end of a pass by Patrice Evra with Cech on the ground and an open net, but Terry somehow contorted his body in the air to put a head between the ball and a sure Manchester United goal. A swap between Rooney and Nani for Manchester United followed soon after, but it wasn't the answer the Devils were seeking in the first extra period.
The second fifteen minute period saw more of the same combative play. Neither side gave an inch, and neither club could seem to earn one. Possession, passing, fouls and shots went both ways. If it hadn't been clear before this period, it was obvious now: Manchester United and Chelsea were extremely well-matched squads. They had battled for the 'best in England' title, and now they battled for the rights to call themselves best in Europe, if not best in the world. This profound truth wasn't lost on a single player as they sent the ball upfield and down, looking for a break. A blistering shot from a free-kick was Drogba's contribution. A Tevez run and the hardworking Ronaldo couldn't make the difference. Both squads had players on the ground with cramps at every pause.
Finally, the tension boiled over. Ballack and Tevez began a shoving match, quickly enveloping both squads. In the midst of the row, Didier Drogba gave Nemanja Vidic a slap in the face, and that was enough to end his night. Tevez and Ballack both came away from the tussle with yellow cards, but Chelsea suffered most as they suddenly had only 10 players to hold back the tide. Manchester United tried and failed to press their advantage, and the match came to a stop again when Nani and Ashley Cole clattered together in the Chelsea box, clashing heads violently. The injuries ate up the rest of the period, leaving only time for Chelsea to sub Belletti in for Makelele and Manchester United to send Anderson in for Wes Brown, prepping their squads for the penalty shootout that was sure to come. Come it did.
Penalties:
Manchester United won the coin toss, electing to kick first and to take the penalties on the drier end of the pitch, a decision that Chelsea was sure to agree with after the difficulty both sides had with the failing surface. Tevez, Ballack, Carrick and Belletti kept their nerve and kept their sides even. The Boy Wonder, Cristiano Ronaldo, this Champions League season's top scorer, was next, sauntering to the spot to make one final contribution to the Reds' campaign. But then, his fairy-tale season went off the script: Cech stretched out his hand and denied the Portuguese winger. Ronaldo, along with thousands of Manchester United players, managers, and fans, were stunned. Advantage, Chelsea.
Lampard, Hargreaves, Ashley Cole and Nani did their part, finding the back of the net to keep their teams in it. Then came the moment of truth. The seasoned John Terry, Chelsea captain, came forward with the chance to win the Champions League. But it was not to be. Alas, tonight's twelfth man, the Moscow arena's tragic pitch, left John Terry slipping to the ground and the ball out of the net. Suddenly, the teams found themselves tied - again - and Anderson, Kalou and Giggs kept the match even. Nicolas Anelka took to the spot needing to score to keep Chelsea's championship hopes alive. But in a duel between a proven goalscorer and a proven goalkeeper, the keeper was the hero tonight. Van der Sar palmed Anelka's shot to the side, and Manchester United were champions of Europe.
Summary:
Was this match a Champions League classic? Perhaps not. The midnight hour and the impotent pitch were always going to be obstacles, and the match was further marred by the fights that always threated to, and occasionally did, break out between the blue and red clubs. But you could not have asked for a match between teams of more even ability. This was the best vs. the best, pure and simple, and isn't that what the Champions League is all about? Manchester United won because one club had to win at the end of the night. Looking back, it might be possible to see a few more chances for United than for Chelsea, but matches aren't won on chances created. They're won on chances converted, and tonight, Manchester United converted just one more chance than did Chelsea. It could easily have been the other way round. Chelsea fans should be proud of their club, even though sadly it seems likely to fall apart somewhat during the summer, and Chelsea players should know they fought this one, for all intents and purposes, to a draw. That will be little consolation, unfortunately, as they watch Manchester United raising their second major trophy this season. Tonight, one of the best teams in the world won, but one of the best teams in the world also lost. Sporting impulses will make fans eager to declare one the absolute best, but from what I saw, that task is virtually impossible. This match may not be remembered well in the annals of Champions League history, but these teams will not soon be forgotten.
Just like the difficulty of declaring which team was better, there is a huge challenge in naming a single player that stood out. However, with a slight edge, Man of the Match goes to Edwin Van der Sar. In the one moment that made a difference, Van der Sar stepped up. If not for that penalty save, I'd be writing about how Manchester United's great play should be a consolation to them. Congratulations on adding a second Champions League medal to your trophy case!
| 60 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
