Forever United

What is even more intresting is the clean sheets we have kept. 13 games without conceding a goal in the league, and most of the matches,we did not have our best defence. There were like 7-8 games Rio did not play, a few in which Evra was missing. But the best thing is that whoever replaced them did really well. Evans and Rafael have really showed what they are capable of. And one has to say that EVDS has been really brilliant.Even though he has been helped by having some brilliant defenders infront of him, but credit has to be given too him,for he made some brilliant saves. Hope he continues till the end of the season. It looks impossible at this point that he will let a goal in, but that also seems a lil unrealistic as well…

Another good thing that I have to stress upon is that we have been improving in every aspect of our game. There were some games where I feel, United were a little too defensive, trying very hard not to conceed a goal, and that probably made us a bit too cautious. We were not the kind of free-flowing relaxed team and that worried me. But now esp in the game against Fulham(this was the first game I watched since Chelsea where we scored more than 1 goal. And the Chelsea game was brilliant..Men against KG kids..wish we scored more ;)..). What I loved is Berbatov’s goal. It was a move full that probably would have resulted in a goal against any opposition. [Here you can see the move(in pics)]. The game against Fulham, was the game in hand for us. It was important for us to win it as this would mean we would go 5 points clear of 2^nd place (surpsingly!!) Liverpool. It is the first time in probably 5 months or so that the top 5 teams have played the same number of matches.

When everything was going just right for us, some of our opponents have not had a good time at all..Chelsea for instance is in totters..They have sacked Big Phil..The hype, the rumors and all the oohs and ahs when he took over in May or June last year has died out all too soon. It is probably Chelsea’s 5^th manager in the same number of years in the form of Guus Hiddink. Well, I am not particulary intrested in whats wrong out there,because everything is!! It was probably just as Sir Alex Ferguson had said even before the season started, when he wrote Chelsea completely off from winning the league..

At Anfield, Robbie Keane..Ha..Back to Spurs!! LOLZ…Why the hell did they buy him in the first place!! Also they have lost the momentum and are now 5 points behind..And they have not been in the finest of forms as well..In 2009,out of the last 6 games, Liverpool has managed to get 12 points when United has got all 18. Also they have won only 2 of their last 6 games at home. That too at that time when United has won 5 and drawn 1 ie 16 of 18 points..Thats easily covers the 5 points lead United have.

Wednesday night was a night of spectacle, glamor and some brilliant football on what looked like a slick n soggy pitch. As the two teams fought( and they did "fight") bravely till the end, it was Manchester United that had the last laugh when they finally lifted the trophy for the third time. Previously having won in 1968 and 1998.

This one was even more special as this year marked the 50th anniversary of the 1958 Munich Disaster. A fitting tribute for all those who lost their lives. It was fate. It had to be. The gods decreed that it had to end this way. Or maybe, just maybe, it was those Busby Babes who perished 50 years ago, looking down on a rainy Russian capital who had the final say. This is the way they would have wanted it.

Busby won the European Cup in 1968 with George Best heroically waltzing around Wembley to outwit Benfica and provide an historic first triumph in the competition for English football.It was a long wait until number two arrived, in 1999 under Fergie. After being outplayed by Bayern Munich for virtually all of the final in the Nou Camp, somehow United won 2-1 with the latest of late goals from supersubs Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer. An amazing victory for UNITED would be just perfect.

The stadium was full of colour and noise when the players entered the playing arena on a night that would see one of them celebrating and the other devastated.

Ryan Gigs was surprisingly left out of the starting 11 as Hargreaves played on the right side which surprised everyone. United dominated much of the first half creating a lot of chances which if had been taken the game could well have been over by the end of the first half. Hargreaves proved his selection was deserving when he delivered 2 brilliant crosses in the area from the right side but unfortunately did not result in goals.

A heavy tackle between Makelele and Scholes left Scholes sporting a bloodied nose. After recieving treatment Scholes played a crucial part in setting up the first goal with Brown before Brown delivered the ball in the area to find Ronaldo who headed it home making it his 42nd goal in all competitions this season.

Chelsea had their chance in the 36th min but Drogba missed. United could have gone up by 2-0 had either Tevez or Carrick managed to get the ball past Czech who in both the occassion made brilliant saves to deny them the 2nd goal. But Chelsea had their moment in the 40th minute when an Essien shot cannoned off Rio and Vidic only to land in front of Lampard. Trying to collect the ball to safety, Edwin Van Der Saar slipped and this gave Lampard and easy finish which he finished well to equalise.

Chelsea could have gone ahead had Essien's shot was on target when Van Der Saar slipped again trying to save but this time he was lucky. After this the backline was in redalert working hard to keep the blues at bay. Chelsea did have their chances but fate seemed to be favouring United as the ball kept hitting the wood work.

Giggs came on to the field in the 87th minute breaking the record of Sir Bobby Charlton for most appearences(758 appearances). Soon united were put under pressure when lampard sturck a brilliant shot only to strike the crossbar. Giggs himself came close to scoring when Evra burst into the area before giving the ball to Giggs whose shot was blocked by Terry.

Then in the second half of Extra time came the worst moment of the game when Drogba was red carded for slapping Vidic while Tevez and Ballack were shown the yellow card. Eissien was also booked soon afterwards which was the last notable event in the half before the penalties. United went on to win 6-5 after penalty shoot out, but not before Ronaldo missed one to give Chelsea a brief advantage. When Terry squandered his opportunity to win it for the Blues, Anderson scored to level for United - then Kalou and Giggs both netted before Anelka stepped up for the final decisive spot-kick, saved superbly by Edwin van der Sar. Cue scenes of ecstasy in Moscow as the Reds made history, wonderful history.

Even though the night belonged to United one can definitely not take anything away from Chelsea, they performed well, played well(barring few incidents) and it was definitely sad to see them loose this way but better luck next time(if its not United you face).