A little after half past one on a rainy night in Moscow, Edwin van der Sar leapt to his right to save the 14th penalty of a nerve-shredding shoot-out and clinch victory for Manchester United in the Champions League final against Chelsea.
The Dutchman’s save spared Cristiano Ronaldo, who had earlier missed a penalty, what would surely have been the worst night of his sporting life and won the European Cup for United for the third time.
While United were celebrating, it was heartbreaking for Chelsea, and particularly for John Terry, who slipped just as he was taking the penalty that could have given his side victory.
More from Moscow later, but for now let us know your thoughts. Did the best team win? Or after hitting the post and the bar can Chelsea feel they just endured rotten luck? And what was Ronaldo thinking of with that penalty… Let us know in the comments.
PHOTO: Manchester United’s Edwin Van der Sar holds the trophy as his team mates celebrate after winning their UEFA Champions League final soccer match against Chelsea at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow May 22, 2008. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
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[...] was little on show in last year’s game between Manchester United and Chelsea so why are so many people expecting this year’s contest between United and Barcelona to be so [...]
- Posted by A Champions League final with no fear of failure… It could be a classic - Posted In UEFA Champions League | Soccer News Info - Soccer News InfoMannchester deserved it but if the prod guys in the team CHRISTIANO RONALDO can lead the team to a trophy less season next season.Where is saha we liked that strong dude alot.Ronney boy keep up the strengh in you.I am a liverpool fan but i like evra,rooney and saha to be brought in anfield if they will warm the bench next season.Sir alex you deserve the Name you were crowned with. Kennedy from dubai
- Posted by kennedyI lived my dream being there and watching us win in the most dramatic of circumstances. We earned it.
- Posted by Red DevilWhile I think Chelsea have the more talented players.
- Posted by Mary CarterMan United have the better team and the depth to prove it.
GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!!!The best is yet to come.
Over my dead body Ronaldo is not going anywhere.
This victory meant more to me than all three Patriots Super Bowl wins combined. We are one striker from true dominance over the next five years. Eat your heart out Chelsea fans…..BOO HOO HOO!!!!!!LOL LOL LOL
I came to this website looking for a photo taken by a reuters snapper which was published in the international herald tribune and distributed to at least one u.k. journal. The caption says “english fans clash with russians” As somebody who was involved in the incident, I would like to point out that the whole thing was set up, presumably by the photographer,who seemed to magically appear.It was a completely unprovoked attack by the russians and the only blows thrown by me were in self defence.
- Posted by john manchester u.k.The person in the foreground of the shot was my son, who was hit in the mouth for merely questioning these idiots’ motives.
In the 3 days that we were there, I saw not one incident of any trouble between United and Chelsea fans. We shared the same hotels, bars and restaurants and the behviour was impeccable. In fact the piece below the photograph stated pretty much this, but i guess it doesn’t make for good copy without the”ubiquitous violence shot”. Shabby journalism & potentially very dangerous.
Oh, and the game? Excellent advert for the EPL, heart attack material towards the end, but we managed to scrape home. Well done to both teams and both sets of fans
[...] United’s Champions League victory — your viewsPHOTO: Manchester United’s Edwin Van der Sar holds the trophy as his team mates celebrate after winning their UEFA Champions League final soccer match against Chelsea at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow May 22, 2008. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh. [...]
- Posted by chelsea soccerAlthough Chelsy made a great efforts to win a game I think ManU deserves it more becouse it shows more orginized and beautiful soccer then Chelsy does. Despite that Chelsy has a good number of great players, they play soccer that does not have any good play signature so to speak and I’m actually very suprised that they could take second place in the EL and CL. They should hire a good couch first and then create a good team atmoshpere like in ManU or in Liverpool that everyone respects each other not hates as it is now. Chelsy has a worst climate in a team. Why do they keep Sheva on the bench and do not sell him if he is not needed anymore? Also Drogba helped ManU to win the title by actively getting a red card.The reason that he acted like this was he was tied and could not play the way he used to. He could have made a penalty kick instead of poor Terry who terrible slipped and missed. What a drama! I feel sorry for all Chelsy supporters though.
- Posted by vbsoccerChelsea should have had a penalty for a foul on Malouda around min. 75. That means with 100% good refereeing they most likely would have won it.
- Posted by FFFunny almost nobody mentions it.
John Terry or JT as many fondly call him wanted to take the glory all of it, the split second he saw Van Der Sa go the other way he could see the headline MR CHELSEA…
- Posted by MOSES KASIBANTEThe same thing happened to Beckham.
As a neutral.
United were superb in the first half. The fluke of a goal gifted to lampard seemed to totally un-nerve them. Chelsea failed to take advantage of this tho they dominated second half. Extra time? I felt United were better.
Chances. Chelsea a couple off the woodwork. United a couple off the line.
All pretty much even.
Petulance…. all Chelsea. To see Cole in particular doing his monkey inpression by rubbing his head, complaining harassing the ref etc…Drogba… his usually sulking, diving self….who was he complaining about when he missed with that free kick? Did he deliberately get himself sent off?
Penalties… Ronaldo deserved to miss, Terry didn’t.
Fitting that United’s 2s oldest players finished the game.
Overall… Utd thoroughly deserved it.
Their approach has never had the disjointed swagger of the self-opinionated ( over- opinionated) Chelsea. No sulks, no astinishment that the other side did not let them win.
Lampard reminded me of Arsing Whinger ” The better team did not win”.
I hate seeing it go to penalties…but as it did the right team won and it was a fitting memorial and anniversary.
- Posted by Tony BCouldn’t let beautifulgamer away with so much codswallop! Could s/he please explain why and how Ferguson gets away with screaming in the face of the ref as they come out of the tunnel at halftime. And why after this does the ref not give any other than the very very obvious decisions against Man U.
- Posted by jhOverall a great game that at times both teams deserved to win and at times both deserved to lose. And best of all the winner was an England club!
I realised ever since the game started that Victory belonged to Man U. And I wasn’t surprised even when it got to the P.K and Manchester decided to explore and take over UEFA Champions League 2008 season marking the third time in it’s history of taking the Champions League title.
- Posted by Michael Dammy