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| Champions League final: Manchester United join Europe's greats after Moscow win
Telegraph
Manchester United (1) 1 Chelsea (1) 1
Aet: 1-1; Manchester United win 6-5 on pens
The heavens opened over this epic all-English final last night, weeping tears of joy for Manchester United and tears of sympathy for John Terry. What a beautiful way for United to mark the 50th anniversary of Munich, but what a brutal way for such an honest pro as Terry to be treated by the sporting gods, his foot slipping on the uncertain surface as he addressed what would have been the winning penalty in a merciless shoot-out. Football, bloody hell.
When Nicolas Anelka's kick was then saved by the magnificent Edwin van der Sar, and United's players cavorted in the rain, Terry's misery was complete. England's captain adores Chelsea so deeply, loves football so intensely, that his pain was palpable. Avram Grant, Chelsea's coach for a few hours more, showed real dignity in moving swiftly to console his captain, who wept on his shoulder.
If the heart went out to Terry and Frank Lampard, who had also given everything, and the rest of Grant's band of blue-shirted brothers who could easily have won, the heart had to leap with delight at the sight of United laying their eager hands on a third European Cup.
United's sense of adventure, their commitment to youth, the unbelievable running of Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves, the work ethic of Wayne Rooney and Wes Brown, and the magic of Cristiano Ronaldo all deserved the reward of being crowned kings of Europe.
Even when Ronaldo missed during the shoot-out, the Portuguese wizard had done enough to remind the world of his virtuoso talent on the grandest stage. His first-half header was a gem, matched only by the excellence of Lampard's riposte just before the break.
If a night crammed with heroes offered up one villain it had to be Didier Drogba, deservedly expelled for slapping Nemanja Vidic. If this brilliant target-man does now exit the Bridge of sighs, he leaves with his head held low. His act of stupidity robbed Chelsea of a regular penalty-taker, so ushering Terry into the firing line.
As Drogba stood in the shadows of shame, a centre-half not known for dead-ball prowess had the nerve to take a penalty. When the studs of his left boot failed to grip on the slippery surface, echoing David Beckham's misfortune at Euro 2004, belief ebbed from the Londoners. As a distraught Terry went up to receive some metal that never glitters, the loser's medal, Chelsea fans rallied to their heartbroken captain, chanting his name.
United followers will observe that there was something fitting in Sir Bobby Charlton, that powerful testament to United's survival after Munich, leading the heirs to Sir Matt Busby's great tradition up to collect the European Cup. Terry and his vanquished team-mates were led up by chief executive, Peter Kenyon.
And so United painted the town red last night, sending fans celebrating into Red Square. United's victory was awash with history. No more fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of Munich could be imagined than the sight of Ferguson's ambitious young team shining on the European stage.
No more appropriate celebration of the 40 years since United first lifted the trophy could be scripted than this triumph for the new holy trinity of Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez.
When Old Trafford chants "stand up for the champions", the words will ring with a double resonance: champions of England and champions of Europe. For Ferguson, the trophy collected last night gleamed with particular significance, taking him into a select band of managers to have masterminded two European Cup triumphs like Helenio Herrera, Brian Clough and Ottmar Hitzfeld.
As Chelsea lick their wounds and rebuild, with a new manager, United look forward to a glamorous season. Ferguson's side qualify for the Super Cup in Monaco where they meet Zenit St Petersburg as well as the pre-Christmas jaunt to Tokyo for the World Club Championship. More journeys, more joys.
The 30,000 United fans who flocked to the Luzhniki, fathers and sons, groups of friends, revelled in a night they will never, ever forget. Whatever happens in the future, they will always have Moscow, always have that image of Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs lifting the European Cup as Ferguson beamed with smiles.
United's manager had been bold, unleashing his most attacking players, Tevez joining Ronaldo and Rooney in a 4-4-2 formation with Hargreaves starting on the right, reprising a role he filled successfully at home to Roma. Wary of Chelsea's central strength, Hargreaves often tucked inside to assist Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.
United were first to show, scoring after 26 minutes. When Ashley Cole conceded a throw-in deep in Chelsea territory, Scholes combined superbly with Brown, who worked the ball on to his left foot as United's attackers made their moves.
Rooney darted towards the near-post, Tevez ventured towards the centre, dragging the centre-backs with them, isolating Essien against Ronaldo. As Brown's cross dropped over, Ronaldo outjumped Essien, showing power and timing as he met the ball firmly with his head, sending it flying past Cech from 10 yards.
Cech was superb, soon showing his prowess, following a United surge of breathtaking brilliance. When Rooney acquired the ball in his own half, he immediately spotted Ronaldo's lung-breaking burst down the left. Rooney found him, triggering a remarkable sequence of events.
Ronaldo's hard cross was met by the stooping Tevez, whose header drew an unbelievable save from Cech. Terry completed the clearance but only to the edge of the area where Carrick was arriving like the Trans-Siberian Express. The midfielder met the ball sweetly enough, but too close to Cech, who stretched out his right hand and palmed the ball away. "Come on", screamed Cech.
What a game. Tight? Cagey? No chance. These two Premier League heavyweights kept tearing into each other, Lampard equalising with a neat shot when Essien's effort deflected off Vidic and Ferdinand. Lampard raced away, pointing to the heavens, remembering his mother, who passed away so tragically recently. "That's for you," Lampard mouthed.
Drogba almost broke a post with a fantastic 30-yarder, Lampard struck the bar as Chelsea then dominated. But Van der Sar stood firm in the shoot-out. |
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