Manchester United Wins Champions’ League on Penalty Kicks

Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow may seem an odd venue for a Manchester United-Chelsea match, but Wednesday’s game was set over a year ago, when UEFA didn’t know who would be in the final of the Champions’ League competition. As it turned out, the winners of the Premiership and the runners-up made it, and the Battle of Moscow featured two English clubs (although Chelsea is owned by a Russian). After regulation and extra time, it was 1-1. Man U won on penalty kicks, as ever a stupid way to determine a winner.

The build up for the contest started after both qualified for the final and before Man U had nailed down the Premiership title. The rivalry only built as Chelsea defeated Manchester at home in their final meeting of the regular season, but then squandered a couple of games for draws that they should have won. Manchester’s Ryan Giggs added to the excitement for United fans as an appearance by him in Moscow would be his 759th for Man U, surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s record (and he did).

The pitch was not the best. Indeed, an English groundskeeper removed the turf 15 days before the game because of lumps and bumps. Despite the best efforts of those involved, the field wasn’t quite what they wanted. Then, it rained on the day of the game.

Still, the Russian hosts had given the English fans a break. The area was declared a “visa-free” zone for the week of the game. Anyone with a ticket and a valid passport wouldn’t have to apply to the Russian government for permission to enter the country. Given the tense feelings between London and Moscow officially, this was a generous move. At the same time, the English fans got a taste of prices in Moscow – “Rip-off Russia” as more than one put it.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored first in the 26th minute off a Wes Brown cross. Chelsea equalized when Frank Lampard took a deflected ball from Michael Essien and found the back of the net. That was it, although both sides had chances after that and Chelsea hit the woodwork twice.

In the penalty shoot-out, the first two on each side scored. Then, Mr. Ronaldo blew his shot, giving Chelsea the advantage. Tied 4-4 with John Terry to shoot, Chelsea needed just one more to win. Mr. Terry slipped on his approach, and the ball went wide. Then, at 6-5 favoring Manchester, Nicolas Anelka missed his shot, and that was the end. Man U had achieved the double, the Premiership and the Champions’ League. Three points in the Premiership, and one penalty kick in Moscow, and it would have been Chelsea’s double. The pain is excruciating.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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