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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I am very happy that Chelsea did not win. They have lived too far and too long outside of the rules and conventions of football. And after Mourinho left as manager they really were a renegade team. New manager Avram Grant really had no control over his players. And yet that Chelsea team was “this” (He puts his thumb and fore finger close together) close to be champions and being able to write history in the way Materazzi and Grosso’s Italy of 2006 were able to write history. Let’s face it, Chelsea were a talented and determined team. You might even say they were as “skillful” as United. Which is why I am calling United beautiful this morning instead of skillfull. United was something “better” than Chelsea and it wasn’t just skill. I feel now - though I argued against it during the course of the season- that United do uphold the values of the beautiful game, whereas Chelsea contradict those values whenever they can.
Case in point is what Drogba did to get himself red-carded late in yesterday’s match.
Reuters Mike Collet says that Drogba’s act contained “shades of Zidane”.
But if you look at it from a “beautiful game perspective”, Drogba’s act was really “shades of Materazzi”. If you examine the incident closely you will see very clearly that not only did Drogba hit Vidic in the face but he was trying to provoke him - just as Materazzi tried - successfully - to provoke Zidane during the entire 2006 World Cup final.
And so on this basis and on the general basis that Chelsea has over time become a fouling, referee-harassing, player-baiting, cheating team and that United atleast tried to play good football within the rules and spirit of the game, I am today very happy that Terry missed that penalty.
You can never count on justice in football or in life but in the case of that missed penalty and Van der Sar’s Champions League winning save - justice was served.
And beauty won.
For once.
- Posted by BeautifulgamerGlory GLory Man Utd. For those of you who miss the final match, dont worry… Visit http://www.goacentre.com to watch the highlights!
- Posted by goalcentre.comAt the end of 90 minutes, neither side deserved to win. What if United did have the lion’s share in the first half? They didn’t return to the dressing room with a goal advantage. I’m no Chelsea fan, but it was such a shame to see another title claimed through Russian roulette.
- Posted by Bethunited deserved nothing less than they achieved. they were disciplined through out the season, had the best player in the world with a good teacher in ferguson. no one could stop them especially not an english team which had failed to stop them from retaining the premiership
- Posted by williamsunited deserved nothing less than they achieved.they were disciplined,with the best player in the world,a good teacher in ferguson. no one could stop them especially an english team that had just failed to stop them from snatching the premiership.
- Posted by williamsam going to say what everyone are are thinking, chelsea lost the final because grant made another bad decision letting john terry take that penaty. i knew john terry was going to miss the penaty before he took it. i just feel sorry for lamps,essien, ballack, makalele, cech. but hey thats football
- Posted by desManchester united deserve it but i feel sorry for John Terry …… NOT!!!!!
- Posted by calum beckettWell done Man U.
- Posted by Thomas MathewSell that ferdinand an absolutely useless player who likes to put the ball in his own net. he has done it many times. Throw him out fergie. My sympathies with the cocky littlew b……s o chelsea especially that Drogma.
Well done man. U. I have ben supporting Man.U. since the Munich crash. Well done boys. SELL THAT FERDINAND WHO IS FOND OF PLACING THE BALL IN HIS OWN GOAL. HE IS ABSOLUTE RUBBISH.
- Posted by Thomas MathewChelsea you are a bunch of cocky little b…..ds, especially that ill amnnered drogba.
.
How is that people seem to think that chelsea dominated the game. They dominated the second half. United dominated the first half and the 2 halves of extra time. At the end of the game, only one team could stand above the other and that team was rightfully the team in red! Congratulation to Man United and their fans (including me!)!
- Posted by DKFABOLOUS JOB MANU DESERVED TO WIN AS THEY WERE UNDEFEATED IN THE TOURNMENT AND THE ENGLISH CHAMPS DESERVED TO BE EUROPEAN CHAMPS IN AN ALL ENGLISH FINAL
- Posted by ANKITIT’S ABOUT THAT TIME MAN U SHOWED CHELSEA …..
- Posted by MOGO MANU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Posted by ScarlettIt was a awesome match, very well contested between both the teams, and in the end the red devils had the last laugh, they truly deserved this trophy because the quality of football they played,well done Man Utd you completely deserved this one.Boy in red u rock!!!!!!!!!!
- Posted by Stevethought we were goin to get robbed like we did at chelsea well fxxk you we will rule you we will rule you
- Posted by karlflair triumphed over organisation. There was a nasty undertone of petulance on the part of chelsea cole in particular which detracted from the game which actually did us all proud
- Posted by grantWhy did Terry take that penalty?
- Posted by owenfootball can be cruel at times as it showed today. chelsea dominated the game overall, hit the woodwork twice and then again as terry slipped while taking the penalty. i guess luck favoured man u yet again (1999 final drama)
- Posted by rohanwell done!!! Man Utd deserved it, they worked so hard for both trophies.
well played Chelsea but the better team won!!!!!!!
- Posted by JamesUnited dominated the first half, scored a nice goal and had two shots virtually cleared off the line. Chelsea scored a lucky goal, hit the woodwork twice but had a man sent off. I guess in some people’s eyes that means United deserved it.
- Posted by Mark