Poor Loss In Germany

Bayern Munich 2 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Bayern Munich: Ribery (76), Olic (90)
Manchester United: Rooney (1)

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Neville, Evra, Scholes, Carrick (Valencia 70), Fletcher, Park (Berbatov 70), Nani (Giggs 82), Rooney

That was really a terrible showing. Had it not been for Van der Sar, the tie would have been dead and buried. And that's despite taking a super early lead. To make matter worse, Rooney was practically carried off the pitch at full time. The extend and cause of the injury is still unknown as of now.

It all started so brightly, perhaps too brightly. Rooney was once again the scorer right in the first minute from a Nani freekick. We were coming on strong and it looked like yet another European victory away from home. But the team settled and allowed Bayern come in droves. Their finishing was thankfully terrible throughout the first half.

The second half was more of the same from Bayern. This time it was Van der Sar who proved to the saviour, making save after save. We were frankly rather poor all over the pitch. We kept giving the ball away and against an opponent like Bayern, it was just a matter of time before their got their act together.

It was Neville who was the guilty party for Bayern's leveller. An incredibly stupid handball gave Bayern a dangerous freekick. Ribery's effort was heavily deflected off the wall and it wrongfooted Van der Sar.

Vidic could have restored the lead but his header smashed off the crossbar. At the other end, Van der Sar performed miracles, making an excellent save from Mario Gomez.

Once again it was a lapse in defense that was our undoing. In the dying seconds, Evra got robbed with the ball under his feet and Olic coolly scored giving Bayern a narrow first leg lead.

It was a poor poor performance all around. With the exception of Van der Sar, everyone was terrible. Our inability to hold on to the ball cost us dearly tonight. Tactically, I thought Ferguson bungled it too. It would probably have been better to keep the same lineup against AC Milan at the San Siro. Having Nani and Valencia on either wing and Park in the centre would probably been more effective.

Nevertheless, as poor as the result is, it's not insurmountable. We're only down one goal, and we have the away goal. A victory at Old Trafford in 8 days time would suffice.

Let's just hope the lads can pick themselves up from this loss going into the big game on Saturday. More importantly, let's hope Rooney is alright. The season rests on his shoulders.