Manchester United vs Chelsea - 21 May 2008

Match 151 of 168 v Chelsea<< First < Prev | Next > Latest >>

Match 57 of 57 in 2007-2008<< First < Prev | Next > Last >>

It was nine years since Manchester United last appeared in a UEFA Champions League Final. Since winning in the Nou Camp in 1998-1999, they had reached quarter-finals and semi-finals but no final. In 2007-08, they faced Chelsea in Moscow, having just battled with them all season in the Premiership. Chelsea had beaten Liverpool in the semi-finals, Manchester United had defeated Barcelona. 2008 was fifty years after the Munich air disaster, when the quest for European success ended in tragedy.

Like the 1998-1999 final, this match possessed drama right down to the last kick. Cristiano Ronaldo, everyone’s player of the year, headed in Wes Brown’s cross for the first goal. Shortly afterwards a marvelous move involving Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez nearly made it 2-0. Cech saved both the header from Tevez and the shot from Carrick that followed. Just before half-time, Lampard equalised. In the second half, Chelsea were in the ascendancy and, with twelve minutes to go, Drogba hit a post. In extra-time each side had opportunities to win the game. Lampard hit the bar and Terry headed away an effort by Giggs. Shortly before the end, Drogba slapped Vidic and was sent-off. The penalty shoot-out was nervous and dramatic. Manchester United’s regular penalty-taker, Ronaldo, was the only Manchester United player to miss. The fifth penalty for Chelsea was taken by John Terry. If he scored, Chelsea would win. He sent van der Sar the wrong way but, slipping on the penalty spot, sent his penalty wide. The penalty score was 4-4 after the initial five. Two more successful penalties made it 5-5. After Giggs had scored for 6-5, van der Sar saved from Anelka and Manchester United had won. As the rain teemed down, the red half of the stadium was exultant.

Giggs and Ferdinand lifted the trophy together. Coming on as a substitute, Ryan Giggs overtook Bobby Charlton as the player to make most Manchester United appearances. Charlton himself led the team to receive the cup - a fitting link with fifty years ago. When they returned to Manchester there was no victory parade because of security considerations. In fact, the celebratory mood soon seemed to vanish, extinguished perhaps by the media’s summer-long obsession with where Ronaldo would play next season. After a conversation with Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo agreed to stay at Manchester United.