April 25, 2007
Champions League Semi Final (1st leg)
Manchester United 3 d A.C. Milan 2
Ronaldo 6′ Kaka 2 22′ 37′
Rooney 2 59′ 91′
Chelsea F.C. 1 v Liverpool F.C. 0
J. Cole 29′
- Warning to Walter Pless - don’t read the above scores before watching the match!!
great game to watch for a non alligned observer , milan superb at times in first half , Kaka brilliant , but just shows how important the loss of key players regardless of how big a club can influnce a teams performance , one forgets that united had no Ferdinand - Vjdic - Neville or Sylvistra arguably their starting back four , and it showed in their defending, whilst Milan when they lost Gatusso in midfield and Maldini at the back lost their shape and from dictating the game became vunerable in the middle of the park and united completly dominated for last 35 min of the game.
Can’t wait for next Wednesday - be very hard for united from here despite 3-2 advantage.
Comment by smudger — April 25, 2007 @ 9:41 am
2 away goals will not count when united win in Italy. Go you Reds great game, but a bit lucky Dida was off his game.
Comment by soccer supporter — April 25, 2007 @ 10:52 am
Did anyone here Tony Palumbo’s comment after the game?
“…before the game A.C. Milan would have been happy to score two goals and lose. After the game I’m not so sure they feel the same way” (despite scoring two goals and losing). Go figure…
Comment by Blackjack — April 25, 2007 @ 11:10 am
I heard it was an incredible game! Unfortunately i didnt make it to the pub on time…. damn essays and birthdays!!!! Lets hope Milan get up 2-3 away aint bad!!!!! Lets see how man u cope in italy (again)
Comment by 1878 — April 25, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Was a good game to watch, so much easier to get up when you don’t have to work. I’m sure there is alot of happy MAN U fans. MAN U were lucky to get the win with the last goal in injury time.
KaKa second was nice, could have had three or four goals and was really the only A.C player who looked like scoring. Scholes made an impact in the second half
Comment by wingman — April 25, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
“Another great european night at Old Trafford” was the TV verdict but close analysis will show that is was not the case and Man U have some work to do before the return in the San Siro next Wednesday.
The opening goal, now officially accredited to Ronaldo, was a bit of a fluke as Dida got a hand to the ball and appeared to deflect it into his own net. The first Kaka goal was a splendid effort but the Utd defending was atrocious with three players literally falling over themselves and leaving the centre and the goalkeeper wildly exposed.
Milan had more first half possession (57-43) and looked the better team at half time - solid at the back and, when opportunity presented itself, taking full advantage of Utds weakness. Thye fully deserved their 2:1 lead at the half.
Utd started the second almost a new side - much more focused and determined. Again though they let themselves down on at least four set piece freekicks from just outside the area. On all four ocassions either Ronaldo or Giggs simply blasted at the wall to no result - you would have though that by attempt number four they could have devised something better than than the first three but no. Shame as on at least two of the trys Rooney was unmarked and found space for himself and a short ball to him could have given him the chance to score or play a 1-2 with Giggs.
An entertaining game but not a classic and next week in the San Siro cauldron Milan need just one goal to go through which they are more than capable of doing by their strong defending and opportunism.
Comment by socceraust — April 25, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
Grazie Man U!!!
Comment by vivailcalcio — April 25, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
focus on the real game please liverpool will hold chelsea nil all then win 1 nil at anfield.
kaka was the only decent ac player. dida brocchi gilardinho were all disgraceful. evra was shitful
Comment by lucky — April 25, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
liverpool v chelski will go either one of two ways! The reds are down looking to be knocked out…the ‘faithful’ Kop has sold out and now have bought a Chelski top for next season… Gerrard scores several pearlers to win. Alternatively it is nil all on aggregate then Chelski as per usual score in the last seconds to win.
Comment by 1878 — April 25, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
Man U - Chelsea the final
Comment by mother africa — April 25, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
liverpool ac milan final same as 2005. gerrard most inspirational footballer ever to step onto a ground. anyone watch ronaldo the best player in the world dribble into the corner and lose the ball
Comment by lucky — April 25, 2007 @ 11:01 pm
With Didier ‘Greg Louganis’ Drogba almost able to stay on his feet nowadays (stress on ‘almost’), you might expect that in a few years he’ll be out of nappies, start school and eventually become a productive member of society.
Comment by Lionheart — April 26, 2007 @ 6:31 am
Ok, so it’s down to Anfield next week. Should be a blockbuster. Bring it on.
Comment by Lionheart — April 26, 2007 @ 7:35 am
Lionheart you are so predictable Drobga proved again that he is a class player - great run held off Agger cut inside pulled cross back with left - Joe Cole gets inside full back GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Drobga outmuscled Liverpool all night - Liverpool lucky to get away with a 1 -0 loss. Thought selection of Zendon indicated Liverpools intention and then when they are on top make a change to bring crouch on and revert to the long ball to him ??? very strange
Comment by oncesacked coach — April 26, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Chelsea were completely devoid of original ideas apart from the fast break (hardly original I guess). It caused anxiety but was boring, boring, boring.
I can’t respect the likes of Drogba for what he is regardless of how he plays the game. He’s a diver, whinger, and as Agger suggested during the second half…a cry baby. Vis-a-vis, Joe Cole. Having said that Drogba has been Chelsea’s saviour this season. Heaven knows what might have happened if he’d been sold on the arrival of Shevchenko (no value in that purchase either).
Yeah, Liverpool’s defence was poor. Agger should be skinned for allowing Drogba to get that ball across and shocking tracking allowed Cole to get on the end of Drogba’s cross. Where was Finnan when you need him?
I thought Riise was completely ineffectual and Gerrard was not used effectively - a limb on the tree rather than the trunk of the tree that everyone agrees he does best. Zenden is not good enough to play with Liverpool. Bellamy makes runs but if he could get his brain coinciding with his legs he could actually make runs into places where he could receive the ball rather than over his shoulder. Muppet!!
Despite all of that, I’m looking forward to the return leg.
Comment by Lionheart — April 26, 2007 @ 10:03 am
Lionheart was it worth the early rise? What a boring game! Drogba did play well as per usual but it is frustrating the amount of times he goes down. You can see he is a big bloke and can hold is own when he wants, but he insists on going down again and again.
The first half was incredibly boring apart from the goal, neither side really provided much entertainment. Liverpool lost the game in the first half. Giving posession away too easily and failing to hold the ball up in their half was frustrating.
Chelsea devoid of original ideas? Yes they were. As were Liverpool. Standard issue into the corners… cross. Long ball football. There was nothing through the guts and really it got a bit mundane. I hope the clash at Anfield is better.
Lionheart you were mentioning that you despised chelsea i don’t know why you would but this is quite funny http://www.ihatechelsea.net/
Comment by 1878 — April 26, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Lionheart welcome to the world of European football , counter attacking is very much a major part of all teams stratagies , the difference is quality teams do it well with crisp , concise , penetrating passing and movement both on and off the ball, Chelsea are one of the best . Their defensive structure with Makelele the key in his holding midfield role doesn’t allow other teams the space , if any team were devoid of ideas it is your Liverpool - again we wait for a Gerard miricle . need to give pennant and Gonzales an opportunity to run and dive in the reply .
Comment by oncesacked coach — April 26, 2007 @ 10:47 am
I’ll be the first to admit that Liverpool were devoid of ideas almost to the equal of Chelsea but oncesacked coach you are starting to sound like a Cheatski fan, another bandwaggoner even!!!
What would happen if Drogba and Gonzales came up against each other. It would be a race to be forst to the ground and last up!! No THAT would be boring.
Bring on next week!! Kick some baby blue butt!!!
Comment by Lionheart — April 26, 2007 @ 11:03 am
I’m a Chelsea supporter, and have been since I started watching soccer in the late 90’s.
It hasn’t been the same for me for the past couple of years, and it really pee’d me off when they sent Gallas for Cole (Gallas is my favourite player).
Still, we are winning and are competitive. Can’t complain about that. Just sucks how we got there.
Comment by chalky — April 26, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
United lucky but i can see a distinct similarity to now and the when they played Juventus in the semi’s 99 season! They won the treble that year so bring it on again!! United-Liverpool final!! Fortress anfield will pull through for the reds!!
Comment by corey smith — April 26, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
I made a $50 bet with lucky and another $50 with another mate (during the quarter finals) that Man U. would go further then Liverpool….I’m happy with the results so far, but agree Man U. were a little lucky! I think Kaka should have been given another yellow for his tackles in the second half, but he played well. Rooneys goal a ripper, dida out of position as he was for most of the game.
Comment by Predator — April 26, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
Predator - If you’re willing to say that Kaka should have got another yellow, Scholes should have at least got one and maybe even two. The ref twice thought about booking him but didn’t. Surely one ‘think’ serves as a warning.
Does anyone know what Giggs and Kaka were carded for?
Comment by Tommy — April 26, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
giggs for bitching all game at every decision and kaka asking for cards i think
Comment by lucky — April 26, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
I want to see lots of heartache in the Kop next week
Alan Ball - RIP
Comment by 1878 — April 26, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
No tears in the Kop tonight! It is hard to say this but the best team won on the night. There was no way liverpool deserved to lose this evening. Terribly hard to even smile at a Liverpool win. Entertaining football! Mascherano was brilliant, as was Pennant. Didn’t see much of Lampard though. Nice little touch at the Benitez sitting cross legged over looking the pitch, not to mention vintage liverpool in Robbie Fowler. Lets just hope Man Utd get up so the Toffees can get a decent pay day.
So who’s off to Athens?
Comment by 1878 — May 2, 2007 @ 8:43 am