[the team saluting the immense traveling crowd after the match]
After a flawless performance at Old Trafford 6 days earlier United came to London expecting a tough fight from the home side. Arsenal started the match looking strong and attacking United right from when the whistle was blown. However, it was United who was able to strike first, and second... Inside 11 minutes, the away side was 2-0 up, with goals by Ji Sung Park and Cristiano Ronaldo. All hopes seemed to be lost right then and there, even tough the match barely started.
One thing's for sure, United's team depth has once again proven vital in this late stage. Sir Alex Ferguson also had his tactics right.
In the 60th minute, just when Arsenal looked like they were climbing their way back into the game and pressuring United's defense, United broke away and created one of the best counter attacks we'll see this season. Rio Ferdinand headed the ball away from a cross and Ronaldo ran back to pick it up. With a beautiful flick he found Park who was trying to get the break going. He saw Wayne Rooney running through the left and laid a nicely weighted pass. Rooney went forward and inside the penalty box. Could have went for it himself but decided to pull it back and crossed it to Ronaldo who had continued his run. David Beckham who was in the stadium looked pleased with the show. (LOOOVE his reaction to that third goal!) Right then, a lot of Arsenal fans were leaving the stadium. United's fans grew louder and louder.
[David Beckham congratulates former team mates Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs in United's dressing room after the game]
There were probably more United fans than Arsenal fans in the stadium. It was the perfect night for the Red Devils. They were able to rest Anderson and take off Rooney and Patrice Evra who were one yellow card away from suspension, and brought on Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov and Rafael Da Silva.
The only downside of this match was caused by the referee, for sending off Darren Fletcher for a fair tackle. Fletch tracked back from midfield like he's supposed to, decided to get his leg around Cesc Fabregas and took the ball away from him, from a goal scoring opportunity. The ref must have seen that the ball changed direction, meaning Fletch won the tackle. But he decided to award the penalty. Even more stupid, sent off Fletcher! Poor Fletch, who has been amazing the whole season, now have to sit out the game in Rome.
[The questionable decision by the referee means Darren Fletcher has to miss the final in Rome]
Be it Barcelona or Chelsea, Manchester United is waiting to be the first team to conquer Europe twice in a row since the modern era began.
FOLLOW, FOLLOW, FOLLOW
COS IN ROME
WE'LL WIN TWO
IN A ROW
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