The Italian Job
Today, an under-rated United took a depleted defensive team (Vidic out and Rio still 1/2 fit) to the San Siro in the heart of ArmaniLand and secured a much-needed away victory in the their two-tie Champions League matchup with AC Milan. The Milanese, with the likes of former Red, David Beckham and former World Player of the Year, Ronaldinho (whom manutd.com called "the buck-toothed one"), were slated by some to win over the Ronaldo-less Red Devils. It was not to be.
The Italians took a 1-0 lead with a lucky deflection into the net when the Dinho took a poorly-cleared Beckham freekick and sent it goalward. The Reds seemed to be on their heels for the first 20 or so minutes. Then the pace changed a bit and Paul Scholes "shinned" a limping winner into the goal.
After the break, United seemed to find their legs and never looked back. Two Rooney headers (the last being a Ronaldo-esque cranial rocket) put the Reds up 1-3. Valencia had only been in the match for one minute when he sent the pinpoint cross in to Rooney. Every day I become more and more of a Valencia fan!! But Milan weren't done. In injury time Seedorf back-heeled a beauty into the net and the Milanese were now down 2-3. An idiotic sending off of Michael Carrick for a second yellow card (I hope that United try to rescind this) left the Reds down a man in the waning minutes. But Milan couldn't score and that means Manchester takes a one goal advantage (3 away goals if it comes to a draw at OT) into their home match.
Becks shakes hands with England teammate Wazza
Milan keeper Dida regrets the Scholes goal
Showin' a little Scholesy love
1-2 United!
Ronaldo and Messi who? I'm the world's best player!!
If Ronny can do it then so can I...1-3 United
Carrick sent off...ridiculous.
The French Connection
Bordeaux are sitting atop the Ligue 1 standings. Lyon, who have been the perennial favorites in the battle for French dominance were outpipped by les Girondins last year for the title. This year the Lyonnaise are languishing from 4th to 6th and 12 points down from Bordeaux. So, you would think that a team who are sitting second in La Liga would trounce on the downward spiraling Lyonnaise. It was not to be.
The lackluster Real Madrid showed their same old spotty form that has dogged them the entire season. They have one good game (usually against inferior sides) and the press shout "They will win their 10th (Champions League title) this year!" Then the next game they play like idiots (as they did today) and the press shout "200 million wasted!!!!" They showed absolutely nothing today that would tell me they could shake off their "Last 8 curse" and host the Champions League on home soil this year. Yes, they will probably be there...sitting in the stands with the rest of the people who paid to get in. :)
Lyon won 1-0 with a late winner by Makoun. Now the Lyonnaise have to travel to the Bernabeu to somehow hold on to their 1-0 win. Their advantage is that Real did not score an away goal, so if they manage to hang another one on Casillas, that could be the nail in the coffin for the Madridistas.
Au Revoir, les Blancs!!
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