Thursday, May 28, 2009

Champion's League Result

Ole.. ole.. ole.. ole., Barca.. Boleh!! Yezzzir, it's Barcelona 2 Manchester United 0. Barcelona is the champion of Europe!. A goal each by Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi doomed the Red Devils. After a promising start and as early as the 2nd. minute, United had the chance to score but attempt by J Sung was blocked by Barca goalie. Barca started nervously but in the 10th. minute, out of the blue and thru a solo effort and fantastic controlled and dribllingskills, Eto'o found the net when he shot passed Van Der Vaar. Man United goalie should have stopped the shot, but being quite a tall goalie, his movement and reaction was slow and sluggish, and United were punished. Ronaldo then tried to show to the world his'footballing antics' and tried hard to put United on level terms but was frustrated by the close and tight marking, a trademark of European football.

Second half started with United pulling off Anderson and replacing him with Tevez. Tried as they may but clearly, United were desperate and their tactics were easily read by Barca. Then came the unexpected but spot on lobbed by Xavi who found Messi unmarked and he scored through a header. Ferdinand was the nearest to Messi but his marking was terrible. After the goal United became more panicked and desperate - they took offf J Sung with Barbatov and later Giggs with Scholes, but hell no, the devils left their shooting boots at home.

Fergusson gambled by playing Ferdinand and Giggs - they were too slow and sluggish and their movements were restricted bcos of tired legs. Van Der Saar is passed his prime. Messi and Iniesta clearly controlled the game and their approach to the final with short passing and closed marking, left the Devils frustrated. Rooney tried hard,. He even has his temper under controlled. Perhaps that was United mistake, asking Rooney to stay calm and cool. Ronaldo showed this towards the last quarter of the game and received yellow card for his foul on Puyol. Maybe the speculation and much talk of him moving to Real Madrid unsettled him. Anyway, hard luck United.., if only they were playing Chelsea, they could have won the trophy.

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