United Limbs Out Of Champions League

Manchester United 3 - Bayern Munich 2
Scorers
Manchester United: Gibson (2), Nani (7, 41)
Bayern Munich: Olic (43), Robben (74)

Red Card
Manchester United: Rafael (50)

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Rafael, Evra, Carrick (Berbatov 81), Fletcher, Gibson (Giggs 81), Valencia, Nani, Rooney (O'Shea 55)

This was terribly disappointing. Sorry, make that massively disappointing. Bayern finally exorcises the ghost of 99.

We got off to an emphatic start, going two up within 7 minutes with goals from Gibson and Nani, and threatening to turn the game into a riot. The early goals totally shattered whatever swagger the Germans brought from the first leg. Bayern were making mistakes all over pitch, while we looked razor sharp all over the pitch.

When Nani scored his second and our third late in the first half, I thought the game was well and truely won. We were cruising and it looked way too easy. Bayern had given up and we really looked almost as good as Barcelona last night.

The euphoria didn't last long. Perhaps a few of the players were thinking along the lines that I was. For a brief moment after the third goal, everyone went asleep. And a brief moment was all Muller needed to send Olic thru on goal. Both Vidic and Rio were in no man's land and the task of shadowing Olic fell on Carrick who looked shock. Needless to say, in that very brief moment, Olic slid the ball past Van der Sar and Bayern were back in the tie. You could almost hear the collective sigh from the crowd thru the computer screen.

Half time came and we came out in much better shape that the last few minutes in the first half. Then everything went to hell. Rafael got himself booked for a second incredibly stupid foul and he was sent for an early shower. It gave Bayern renewed hope. For what looked terribly unlikely after the first 10 minutes, Bayern clawed their way back into the lead with a magificent Robben goal.

Ten men against eleven, and needing a goal to progress, Ferguson brought on Giggs, and the man who, henceforth shall be known as The Choker, Berbatov. Neither brought anything to the plate, which was disappointing. He might as well have brought on Macheda instead. At least the lad would have run himself silly, just as Nani and Valencia did all evening.

The season is beginning to look bleak again. Well, at least we get to concentrate fully on the league now. If we're honest with ourselves, we have no chance of winning the Champions League, not with Barcelona playing the way they are. I suppose instead of another embarrassing loss at the hands of the Spaniards, we saved our legs for the 4-pede instead, even though that also seems unlikely at this stage.

Some game comments:
- Kinda shocked to see Rooney start this game. I thought he was out for sometime and really shocked to see him at full flight in the game. Too bad another injury took him out again. Let's hope he recovers from this new one in good shape. I shudder to think of the Choker screwing this one.

-As much as I want to place the blame on the young shoulders of Rafael, I think it's a good learning process for him. His first foul was petulant and his second just plain reckless. Despite these two game changing moments, he had a good game.

- Gibson has arrived. I was pleasantly surprised at how good he is. Reminded me alot of a certain Roy Keane with his box to box efforts. His two other partners in midfield, Carrick and Fletcher put in an incredible work-rate too. Superb stuff from all three.

- Ferguson finally gets it right playing 2 authentic wingers. Both Nani and Valencia were impressive. Both combined well which resulted in both Nani goals.

- Worrying moment when Nani looked dizzy after running the length of the pitch when we were down to ten men. The run took everything out of him and it was a brilliant effort which was saved.

- 30 million pounds, one choker. Has he ever scored a goal that mattered? Don't answer, I know he has, but has he scored on that matters on the big stage?

- Brave of Ferguson to start with youth and speed instead the old men. It was a strategy that both worked and backfired. Nani and Gibson scored, while Rafael probably cost us the game. Given the choice, I still would have preferred today's result. As for substitutions, I would have preferred to have Macheda and Park (who wasn't even on the bench).

- Now that I've calmed down considerably, it was an exciting game if you're a neutral. We probably deserved better, but it is what it is and to date, the team's already exceeded my expectation with a Mickey Mouse Cup. I had expected us to fall short on every department.