Champions League Final 2008

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Champions League Final 2008; news reports
Topic Started: Apr 30 2008, 12:51 AM (48 Views)
Ninja Boi	Apr 30 2008, 12:51 AM Post #1
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	A place to post news about this... Tonight Man utd beat Barcelona 1 - 0 to secure there place in the final!! Man Utd 1-0 Barcelona (agg 1-0) By Phil McNulty Paul Scholes' spectacular strike sent Manchester United into their first Champions League final for nine years on a night of Old Trafford tension. Scholes rifled in a spectacular 25-yard effort after 14 minutes to beat Barcelona and set up an all-English clash with Chelsea or Liverpool. Barcelona dominated possession for long periods, with Deco twice close and Thierry Henry wasting a late chance. But United mounted a rearguard action to seal a date in Moscow on 21 May. There was added poignancy and significance in the victory, coming 50 years after the Munich air crash. And for Scholes, suspended for the 1999 final victory against Bayern Munich in Barcelona, it is a chance to make up for that bitter disappointment. United were dealt a double blow before kick-off when Wayne Rooney's hip injury ruled him out and Nemanja Vidic was sidelined by the concussion he sustained at Chelsea. And United almost made a nightmare start when Scholes tripped Lionel Messi as he raced into the area - there was only inches in it and fortunately for the home side German referee Herbert Fandel got the big call right and gave a free-kick. 606: DEBATE I have no nails left and my heart nearly stopped a few times but we finally made it!!!! Unitedfan1987 It took United time to settle, but Scholes eased their nerves with a thunderous strike to give them the lead in the 14th minute. Gianluca Zambrotta's wayward clearance landed at Scholes' feet, and he delivered a trademark rising drive from 25 yards that flew high into the net beyond the outstretched hands of Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes. It was only the second goal Scholes has scored this season - but it was a fitting strike to send United to the final. Messi was the real danger man for Barcelona, and he ended a slalom run with a left-foot shot that was turned away by United keeper Edwin van der Sar. United had chances of their own, with Ji-Sung Park side-footing just wide, but Barcelona regained their composure to enjoy a period of superiority, with Deco twice narrowly off target. Nani, preferred to Ryan Giggs, wasted a chance to grab the priceless second goal three minutes before the interval when he glanced Park's cross wide from eight yards. United players celebrate United are one win away from emulating their 1999 success Barcelona began the second half with a spell of possession, but it was United who carved out a clear opportunity as Valdes blocked Tevez's close-range drive after 56 minutes. The Catalans made a change on the hour, sending on former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry for Andres Iniesta. Barcelona, inspired by the brilliant Messi, had United penned back, but they were resisted by defensive discipline and resilience of the highest class from a side normally noted for their attacking verve. United attempted to stem the tide with 13 minutes left by making a double change, with Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher replacing Nani and Scholes. Henry almost returned to haunt United with a point-blank header from from Xavi's corner which was gratefully clutched by Van der Sar. Barcelona weaved pretty patterns in the closing stages, but United's defence - superbly marshalled by Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown - stood firm to spark wild scenes of celebration at the final whistle. Man Utd: Van der Sar, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra (Silvestre 90), Park, Scholes (Fletcher 76), Carrick, Nani (Giggs 76), Ronaldo, Tevez. Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Anderson, O'Shea, Welbeck. Booked: Carrick, Ronaldo. Goals: Scholes 14. Barcelona: Valdes, Zambrotta, Puyol, Milito, Abidal, Toure Yaya (Gudjohnsen 88), Messi, Xavi, Deco, Iniesta (Henry 60), Eto'o (Bojan 72). Subs Not Used: Pinto, Edmilson, Sylvinho, Thuram. Booked: Zambrotta, Deco, Toure Yaya. Att: 75,061 Ref: Herbert Fandel (Germany). BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Barcelona's Lionel Messi 7.98 (on 90 minutes). :thumbsup :soccer



Ninja Boi	May 1 2008, 11:08 AM Post #2
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool (4-3) By Sam Lyon Didier Drogba scored twice as Chelsea swept into their first Champions League final at the expense of Liverpool on a night of high drama at Stamford Bridge. The Ivorian opened the scoring with a 12-yard strike, but Fernando Torres's drive sent the game into extra-time. Frank Lampard restored the lead from the spot after Michael Ballack had been felled, before Drogba prodded a third. Ryan Babel's 35-yarder prompted a tense finale, but Chelsea held on to seal a tie with Manchester United in Moscow. Grant happy to 'make history' with Chelsea It was an emotional night for Lampard, who was back in the starting line-up for the first time since the death of his mother six days earlier from pneumonia. He looked calm and composed as he slotted home the penalty in extra-time but as he celebrated by kissing a black armband worn in remembrance of his mother Pat and pointed to the rain-lashed sky above, the emotions flooded out. Chelsea's win was sweet revenge, having been knocked out of the competition at this stage three times in the last four years, including twice by Liverpool in 2005 and 2007. And it was just about deserved on a tumultuous night's football, their reward being a titanic encounter against their rivals for the Premier League title. Both sides made two changes to the teams that started the first leg at Anfield, Michael Essien returning from a European ban and Salomon Kalou preferred to Florent Malouda for Chelsea, Liverpool replacing Babel and the injured Fabio Aurelia with Yossi Benayoun and John Arne Riise. But, as was the case last week, it was the home side that made the early running and Drogba forced the first save of the night with a skiddy effort from 25 yards. Liverpool's plan was apparently to soak up pressure and then look for Torres at every opportunity. The plan almost reaped rewards on 10 minutes when the Spaniard ran onto Steven Gerrard's fine pass, only for Petr Cech to smother his shot from eight yards. It was as close as the visitors got in the first half, though, as Chelsea dictated both possession and chances. Drogba - so impressive in the Blues' weekend win over Manchester United - was at the heart of all that was good about the hosts' play, but he should have done better when he clipped wide having been set clean through in the box by Lampard's incisive pass. Liverpool's cause was not helped by an injury to Martin Skrtel, the defender limping off with a knee injury, and things got worse for the Reds when Chelsea scored on 33 minutes. Fittingly, Drogba grabbed the goal, the Ivorian drilling in with aplomb after Kalou, who had been set free by Lampard, had brought a diving stop from Reina. Benitez proud of players despite defeat Replays suggested Kalou had run onto Lampard's through-ball from an offside position but Drogba, so heavily criticised by Rafael Benitez before the game for diving, showed no remorse as he grasped the opportunity to celebrate in front of the Liverpool bench. Ballack almost rounded off the half with a superb free-kick that flew inches wide and the visitors appeared understandably relieved to go into half-time with the score just 1-0. Torres levelled in normal time but Chelsea held on to seal a final spot Something had to change for the Reds - and it did - Liverpool almost making a dream start to the second half when Dirk Kuyt forced a smart save from Cech eight yards out. Gerrard, superbly marshalled by Claude Makelele, had been anonymous in the opening 45 but, with Chelsea happy to sit deep, the midfielder helped Liverpool back into the match. The Blues suddenly looked short of rhythm and their lack of sharpness was exposed when Benayoun strolled infield and slipped in Torres, the Spaniard spinning on a sixpence and lashing into the corner. It was Liverpool's first goal at Stamford Bridge in 841 minutes of football, spanning nine matches, and meant the match was destined for extra-time. The extra period fizzled with controversy - sparked when an Essien drive from 22 yards out flew into the net, only to be ruled out because four Chelsea players stood offside. The Blues' protests that they were not interfering were muted seconds later, though, as Sami Hyypia felled Ballack and Lampard dispatched the resultant penalty brilliantly. Seven minutes later Chelsea went two goals clear when Drogba swept home Anelka's pass from six yards. The touch paper had well and truly been lit and, after Hyypia had penalty appeals waved away following a Drogba challenge, Babel reduced the arrears with a speculative effort from 35 yards that Cech should have done better with. It was a frantic end to an astonishing match, but Chelsea saw it out to send the home fans into raptures and put themselves in with a chance of becoming the first London club to lift Europe's most sought-after prize. Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole (Anelka 91), Ballack, Makelele, Lampard (Shevchenko 119), Kalou (Malouda 70), Drogba. Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Obi, Alex, Belletti. Goals: Drogba 33, Lampard 98 pen, Drogba 105. Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel (Hyypia 22), Riise, Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Benayoun (Pennant 78), Gerrard, Torres (Babel 99). Subs Not Used: Itandje, Finnan, Crouch, Lucas. Booked: Alonso, Arbeloa. Att: 38,900 Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy). BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Chelsea's Didier Drogba 7.65 (on 90 minutes).



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