by Khilen Mehta

Sir Alex Ferguson had made it his priority this year to take the Champions League trophy back to Manchester this season in memory of those who did not survive the Munich disaster. As United won Europe´s elite trophy for a third time, the triumph was made more poignant as it came fifty years on from the air crash.

The opening moments of the game were predictably tense. Neither side was willing to give the other an inch and there was plenty of possesion but little to mention in terms of clear opportunities. The game sparked into life however in the 20th minute when an aerial collision between Scholes and Makelele left both players with a yellow card and bloody faces.

This was the spark that United needed and for the rest of the first half it was all them. Ronaldo had been terrorising Essien on the left wing all game and when a pin point Wes Brown cross found its way to the back post, predictably there was Ronaldo, to steal ahead of Essien and send United into the lead. Chelsea rode their luck from then on in but they were partly saved by poor finishing. Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick both should have done better with their chances and the game should have been all over by half time. But as is football, Chelsea were back in the game by half time. Essien, driving forward from the back in order to make up for this mistake, had a shot deflected away. No United player followed up the ball, and there was Frank Lampard to equalise for Chelsea. Such a fitting tribute for a player who is playing so recently after the loss of his mother.

From then on, it was all Chelsea. They came out for the second half with their tails up and played United off the park. Twice Chelsea hit the woodwork, twice they were denied by the heroics of Van der Sar. But at the other end, John Terry somehow stopped United from retaking the lead with a incredible goal line clearance. Neither side could break the deadlock and so after 30 minutes of gruelling extra time, severe cramp and some childish behaviour by Drogba that earnt him a red card, there came the chance to be a hero in the penalty shootout.

Tevez and Carrick were on target for United as the shoot-out started, with Ballack and Juliano Belletti following up for Chelsea. Then up stepped Ronaldo, so often the saviour for United, but this time his arrogance almost cost him as his kick was saved by Cech. And so with defeat staring United in the face, Terry stepped up. However the weather had been treacherous and he slipped, sending his kick against the upright and giving United another lifeline. Anderson and Kalou were both successful before Giggs threw all the responsibility on Anelka as the shoot-out reached sudden death. However it proved too much for the striker, who saw his penalty palmed away by Van der Sar. United were crowned kings of European football once again.

By Khilen Mehta

Since missing out on the Champions league final due to suspension in 1999, Paul Scholes has been itching to play in another one for 9 years. After his special strike last night, his name has already been guaranteed a spot on United´s team sheet for the final in Moscow. Last night had all the makings of a great Champions League semi-final. Two teams with so much to play for…United hungry for success, Barca trying their utmost to restore pride. In the end the game might not have provided the goals or the thrills but it kept fans on the edge of their seats and sent United on their way to a potential double.

With United missing arguably two of their most important players, many fans could be forgiven for thinking this tie could have been a lot closer than it eventually turned out. But as has belied United all season, in the absence of one superstar, someone else invariably steps upto the plate. Last night was the turn of Wes Brown and Park Ji Sung who propelled United to the first all English champions league final in the history of the competition.

Barcelona, for all their sexy football and poetry in motion, rarely threatened the United goal. They looked menacing, they attacked with flair but were just let down far too often in the final third. Lionel Messi was a joy to behold once again, and if anyone looked like providing a scare it was him. But he was also let down far too often by his teammates and in truth Edwin Van Der Sar had very little to do, much like the previous leg in the Nou Camp. Barcelona, of course, had the talent to make things tense as the game progressed but United looked comfortable and with the much maligned Wes Brown having the game of his life, it was Scholes who grabbed the headlines.

And what a beauty it was that won the game. It may have been a scrappy build up, but the finish was a moment of genius. As he picked up the ball 25 yards out, there was almost a collective shout of encouragement for him to shoot, and boy did he deliver. The ball flew into the top right hand corner, leaving Victor Valdes no chance.

And that was it all it took. It has been a long 9 years for United fans. A time period in which they know they have underachieved in Europe. But now they head to Moscow for the chance to make things right…

by Khilen Mehta

The first legs of the quarter final stages of the Champions League were completed last night, and it is Liverpool who came away with a slight advantage over rivals Arsenal.

In the first of three games in a row against the Gunners, this result was always going to have a psychological sting and Liverpool will be the happier team, after coming away from the Emirates Stadium with an away goal.

Adebayor gave Arsenal a deserved lead from a Robin Van Persie corner, but three minutes later Liverpool were level following some fantastic play by their own captain fantastic, Steven Gerrard, who ghosted past the Arsenal defence and layed the ball for Dirka Dirka Kuyt to slot in.

Arsenal were the better side throughout, but just couldn’t convert their chances. They were not helped by a terrible refereeing decision, when Kuyt clearly dragged Hleb back by the arm as he raced into the area. Arsenal were understandably furious when Dutch referee Pieter Vink ignored their appeals.

It was clearly not Arsenal’s night, especially when a goalbound shot by Fabregas was cleared off the line by Nicolas Bendtner: their own player!! So the two teams meet again at Anfield next Tuesday with the tie still open but Liverpool the slight bookmakers’ favourites.

The other game of the night involved Chelsea travelling to Istanbul to take on Fenerbache in what was guaranteed to be an intimidating and daunting atmosphere. In a one sided first half, Chelsea took the lead when Deived inadvertently turned a Florent Malouda cross into his own net. However, in the second half, Fenerbache levelled through Colin Kazim Richards, once of Bury and Brighton, and Chelsea were soon silenced when Deived made amends for his early error to win the game with a superb 30-yard strike into the top corner.

This tie is also far from over yet, but Chelsea have a lot of work to do to stay in the competition.

by Khilen Mehta

A mature and confident performance from Manchester United saw them overcome Roma away at the Stadio Olimpico with a clinical 2-0 victory. United always looked threatening without creating too many chances, but they took the ones that came their way.

They took the lead when Cristiano Ronaldo headed home a rare goal from Paul Scholes’ cross six minutes before half-time. Roma looked to go forward at every opportunity and spurned a great chance to equalise through defender Christian Panucci, who somehow found himself the furthest man up the pitch! It left Spaletti fuming. They kept pressing and were only denied by a fine save from Edwin Van der Sar, who kept out a Mirko Vucinic header.
Five minutes later, Rooney bundled home a crucial second and the tie looked to be as good as over.

The only bad news on the night was an injury to Nemanja Vidic, whose injury could mean a recall to reserve team regular Gary Neville.

It looks likely that United will face Barcelona in the semi finals after they overcame Schalke O4 away, with Thierry Henry and teenage sensation Bojan Krkic combining to give Barcelona a one goal advantage going into the second leg at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

by Khilen Mehta

The draw for the quarter final and the semi final stages of the Champions League took place last Friday in Nyon, Switzerland amid rumours that the draw had been rigged. An anonymous post on a football forum correctly predicted the outcome two hours before the live draw and UEFA was forced to react quickly to claims of fixing the ties. After the dress rehearsal of the draw in the morning kept apart all the English clubs, it seemed almost inevitable that the official draw in the afternoon would bring together two English teams in the quarter final stage for the first time. And it was Arsenal who would meet Liverpool in the quarter final stages of the competition. Arsene Wenger’s side will play the first leg at home on 2 April, with the return leg at Anfield on 8 April. With a league game between the two sides sandwiched in between these two fixtures, it could well prove to be a make or break week for both clubs aspirations of silverware this season.. The winners of the Arsenal-Liverpool showdown - the first time those two clubs will have met in European competition - will then take on Chelsea or Fenerbahce in the semi-finals, while Manchester United or Roma face Barcelona or Schalke 04.

With Fenerbache and Schalke 04 appearing in the quarter final stages for the first time, few would bet against Chelsea and Barcelona proceeding to the later stages. However, the atmosphere may prove more intimidating than expected for the Chelsea players, with Istanbul a notoriously loud and daunting theatre of football, where few teams come away with a positive result. Barcelona are also currently struggling with injuries and boardroom unrest, giving Schalke 04 a slim chance of pulling off a massive upset.
Manchester United fans have good reason to be more nervous than the players for their tie against Roma. Roma are familiar opponents for United and their meeting on April 8/9th will the sixth between the two clubs in a year having clashed in the group stages in the autumn and in the quarter-finals twelve months ago. However, these ties were marred by fighting between the two sets of fans and the tie will be played with one eye on both sets of fans.
According to the bookmakers, English sides make up four of the top five favourites to lift the trophy. If Chelsea can overcome Fenerbahce in their quarter-final, not only could they face their semi-final conquerors of 2005 and 2007 in Liverpool, but also that England would be guaranteed a presence in the final. At this stage few would bet against an English side lifting the trophy in Moscow on 21 May.