UEFA 2008 Final

I used to think the Tevez is a very good player, but yesterday I was proved wrong. Within 40 minutes of the first half the score should have been 3-0 in favour of Manchester United – but once Tevez was unable to find goal with only the goalkeeper in front of him, and later he was too late on a brilliant cross. The first half was completely dominated by Manchester United, and it was pure providence the Chelsea was able to find the equalizer in the first half – thanks to two deflections. But without a doubt the second half and the extra time belonged to Chelsea, only brilliant defending from Rio Ferdinand and Van der Sar’s defence of the goal was what stopped them.

It boiled down to the penalties, and even though I am a Manchester United supporter, I felt bad for John Terry that he missed “that” penalty. He’ll never live it down… He was the one who forced the match to penalties with a brilliant instinctive save when he was alone between Ryan Giggs and a almost certain goal – the goalkeeper Petr Cech was scrambling to recover after being completely foxed by Evra. Van der Sar stopped the Anelka shot and Manchester United clinch the double 😀

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What was Uthappa thinking yesterday? With 32 needed of 21 balls, with seven wickets remaining, with Sachin in deft touch – what was the need for the two wild swings ala two dot balls. And when there was a single of the last ball of the over, why was he napping? And the next over he plays an atrocious shot. I know Uthappa has never been known for sane shot selection, but then at least have a sense of timing. You are last “proper” batsman, and you play that kind of shot!

I feel Uthappa lost the match for Mumbai yesterday.