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FOOTBALLVAN DER SAR JUST NICS SHOOT-OUT
Edwin van der Sar saves Nicolas Anelka's penalty 
Thursday May 22,2008 By Richard TannerMANCHESTER UTD..1 CHELSEA..1 (AET: United win 6-5 on pens)
A pulsating Champions League final ended in a game of Russian roulette, with Manchester United the victors on penalties.
Nicolas Anelka was the unlucky man to miss the final kick against Edwin van der Sar as United won 6-5 on spot-kicks, which were hardly a fitting finale to a thrilling game. It concluded a controversial ending to a game in which Didier Drogba was shown a straight red card for slapping Nemanja Vidic in the face after a melee including almost all 22 players. Carlos Tevez was also booked following the bust-up, as was Michael Ballack. Drogba had to be restrained from confronting Vidic on his way off the pitch by Rio Ferdinand and a linesman. It was a disappointing end to a match which had been a great advertisement for English football, especially in the first half. Sir Alex Ferguson picked what most would argue was his strongest team and adopted a bold approach, with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tevez all starting.
Owen Hargreaves was deployed on the right flank with Ronaldo on the left where he could exploit Michael Essien’s weakness as a right-back.And Avram Grant’s decision to put his midfield powerhouse in a defensive role was to prove costly. The early exchanges were characterised by some poor passes from both sides and the only attack of real threat in the first 16 minutes came when Patrice Evra’s precise long ball found Ronaldo, who left Essien for dead but his cross was too high for Hargreaves at the far post. After a cautious, low-key start the game erupted in the 20th minute when, after a collision with Claude Makelele, Paul Scholes was left with blood streaming from his nose. Wayne Rooney argued that the Chelsea player had kicked Scholes in the face as he tumbled to the ground. But it was Scholes who was booked for the initial challenge before being led off to have his nosebleed stemmed. While United were down to 10 men, Chelsea threatened for the first time, with Nemanja Vidic having to head clear to stop Frank Lampard’s cross reaching Drogba. Scholes was off the pitch for a few minutes but on his return he was heavily involved as United took the lead. The little midfielder played a neat one-two with Wes Brown that left the right-back with the space to loft a cross to the far post where Essien, inexplicably, stepped forward to gift Ronaldo a free header that he accepted to guide the ball expertly past Petr Cech. A goal was just what was needed, with both teams sparked into spectacular attacking frenzy for a few moments. When Drogba headed Lampard’s ball across the six-yard box, Ferdinand, under pressure from Ballack, almost headed into his own net and was hugely relieved by Edwin Van der Sar’s finger-tip save. Then, at the other end, Rooney’s superb crossfield pass sent Ronaldo away and from his cross Cech had to make a double save, first from Tevez’s diving header and then from Michael Carrick’s goalbound follow-up after Terry’s clearance had dropped to him. United should have regained the lead after 42 minutes when Rooney’s beautifully-weighted low cross should have been converted by Tevez but Makelele did enough to put the Argentinian off. Chelsea had been forced to show more ambition and they were rewarded with an equaliser on the stroke of half-time – although it was a lucky one. Essien’s long-range shot deflected off Vidic and then Ferdinand before rolling to Lampard whose gambler’s instinct had taken him forward into the box where he was able to guide a low shot past Van der Sar. Ferguson came out after half-time wagging his finger at the referee, apparently over Chelsea’s slow arrival for the second half. But there was nothing sluggish about the game now. United were first to threaten, with Evra’s cross just too high for Hargreaves at the far post. But Chelsea responded. There was a far greater tempo, adventure and urgency about them. Essien surged forward and evaded Ronaldo’s challenge before lifting his shot over the bar; Vidic had to throw himself to head Ashley Cole’s behind to prevent Drogba from scoring a certain goal; Ballack’s long-range drive swerved a yard wide and Carrick made a lunging clearance from Florent Malouda’s dangerous free-kick. There was a worry for United after 68 minutes when Ferdinand collapsed in agony with cramp in his right leg but he was able to continue after treatment and a drink. With their team under the cosh, United fans were chanting “attack, attack, attack”, sensing it was the best form of defence. Rooney responded by setting up Carrick for a goalbound shot that left Makelele dazed. As a fascinating game ebbed and flowed, Drogba was inches away from snatching the victory for Chelsea after 77 minutes when his curling effort smacked against the outside of a post. Tevez, who had been largely disappointing, responded with his best effort of the game, a 25-yarder that whistled just wide. Ferguson sent on Giggs for the tiring and bloodied Scholes in the 87th minute. It meant that Giggs had set a new all-time club appearance record of 759 – one ahead of the watching Bobby Charlton. Both sides had chances in the first period of extra-time. Lampard struck the bar with a shot after three minutes. At the other end, Terry got his head in the way of Giggs’ goal-bound shot after Evra’s surge into the penalty area. Then came the penalty drama.
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BEST OF BRITISH
23.05.08, 7:11am
Game of two halves,glut of cleches etc.....
United should have had it done & dusted in the first half.Three clear chances to go in @ half time 3-0 up.
However Chelsea were the better team in the second half.Setting up a terse extra time period.
However,i feel United nicked it,on play during this period.
Brown,Hargreaves & Ferdidnand were outstanding.The only pity,is what a shame ANY final has to be won on penalties.What,if any is the alternative? ? ?
• Posted by: hughsey • Report Comment
BEST OF BRITISH
22.05.08, 3:28pm
The game was a credit to English Football,(pity we can't do it at International level. Many words have been used to describe the skills and play of Ronaldo, even touted as the best in the world.To be that in my view you need to perform consistently on the big stage and I don't feel that he has done that yet. I felt that his contribution for most of the second half and all of extra time was below expectations of a would be world class player, and his penalty antics laughable.
• Posted by: frankiep781 • Report Comment
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