Champions Of Europe - United Wins Spot Kick Thriller

Manchester United 1 - Chelsea 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Ronaldo (26)
Chelsea: Lampard (45)

Penalties: Manchester United 6 - Chelsea 5

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Brown (Anderson 119), Evra, Scholes (Giggs 87), Carrick, Hargreaves, Ronaldo, Rooney (Nani 102), Tevez

What a thrilling, yet cruel end to the game. It almost mirrored 99's victory in terms of drama. And not to mention, a fitting and well-deserved tribute to Munich.

As expected the game started in the most nervous fashion for both teams. Kudos to Fergie for playing a 4-4-2, throwing our best eleven into the fray, even though the team seriously lacked the cutting edge and imagination for most parts.

The opening 20 or so minutes was all about both sets of defenses cancelling out the attacking play. In that time, Scholes earned a booking and a bloodied nose for a terrible challenge on Mekelele. Both Kentona and I feared the worst when we saw the amount of blood, but Scholes soldiered on.

And it was Scholes' good interplay with Brown that produced the opening goal. Seemingly cornered down on the right flank, Scholes played a brilliant one-two with Brown, etching out space for Brown to cross. Mesmerised by the sweet play, Essien failed to challenge Ronaldo who headed the ball into the net, giving us a 1-0 lead.

United had the goal advantage, and it calmed us down considerably. We began to play our brand of imaginative football and proceeded to tear Chelsea down. Both Tevez and Carrick forced an outstanding double save from Cech, after Rooney had set Ronaldo free down the left flank.

Then Rooney's cross from the right byline nearly resulted in another goal had Tevez had a touch to it. Chelsea were hanging on by the skin of their teeth.

But our missed opportunities came back to haunt us when right at the stroke of half time, Chelsea found the equalizer against the run of play. A long range shot deflected off Vidic and then caromed off Rio, only to find the feet of Lampard. And he brought the teams levelled going into the break.

Chelsea came into the second half a different team. They were sharper to the loose balls and slightly better coming forward. We had lost all the momentum built in the first half and for brief periods in the half hanging on, only to be saved by some dodgy refereeing.

Drogba curled a shot that had Van der Sar stranded, only for it to rebound off the post. Thankfully, that was all Chelsea could muster. Both teams played out a dull second half.

Extra-time provided slightly more drama. Three minutes into added time, the woodwork once again came to United's rescue when Lampard was given time to turn in the box and dig the ball onto the crossbar.

Eight minutes later, Evra burst into Chelsea's penalty area and cut the ball back to Giggs. With Cech already commited, Gigg's goal-bound shot was saved off the line by Terry.

Yet more drama was in store. Just before the game was to go into penalties, Tevez got into a tussle with Ballack, resulting in mayhem with both sets of players coming together for a pre-penalty orgy. Somehow in the mess of bodies, the referee spotted Drogba giving Vidic a token slap in the face. He had little choice but to produce the red and off went Drogba.

Unfortunately there was little time to capitalise on the man advantage. Not that it really mattered. Both sides had already settled for penalties, moreover bodies were just falling over with cramps in the cold Russian rain.

Kentona and I, spending the night watching from a coffeshop in the neighbourhood, were cursing our luck. We just didn't enjoy the fact we were going into penalties. History has shown that Lady Luck rarely favoured us in the shoot-out. Moreover we felt that we had used up a fair amount of it when the woodwork came to our rescue....twice....in the game.

Tevez *scored*
Ballack *scored*
Carrick *scored*
Belletti *scored*
Ronaldo *missed*

Ronaldo had the third penalty saved, and at this point in time, we thought that that was it. We were going to lose it. I could barely watch the rest of the penalties.

Hargreaves *scored*
A. Cole *scored*
Nani *scored*

It was down to Chelsea's last penalty taker, John Terry. If he scores, the cup is Chelsea's. This was barely watchable.

Terry *missed*

Van der Sar dived the wrong way. Yet for some reason, Terry slipped and his spot kick hit the upright. Once again the woodwork came to our rescue. Against all odds, Lady Luck graced us with her presence when it mattered most. Incredible stuff! The whole coffeeshop breathed a collective sigh of relief but the tension was still hanging high in the air. It was down to sudden death and still barely watchable for those with weak hearts.

Anderson *scored*
Kalou *scored*

Once again, we're dead even.

Giggs *scored*
Anelka *missed*

Van der Sar dived the right way and made his first and his only save of the night. All hell broke loose, in Moscow, Manchester and a tiny coffeeshop in Singapore. The Chelsea players slumped to the ground in despair, while the United players celebrated in pure jubilation.

Just as in 99, I had to pinch myself. The feeling was surreal. We didn't play well on the night, yet somehow we won it all. Penalties are a cruel cruel way to settle a game, but I'm not complaining....not tonight anyway. For the third time in our history, we're Champions of Europe.