ManU vs Chelsea - Champions league final

Happiest day of my life.

Red Devils winning the UEFA champions league for the 3rd time, first after 1999. This comes after the dramatic climax in the English Premier league season.

Without any doubt a year that Gods were on the Devil's side.

ManU vs Chelsea - Champions league final - Minute by Minute.

Edwin van der Sar stops Anelka's penalty and earns United their third trophy!

United needed another miracle to get this cup, and they got it.

Nicolas Anelka: SAVE!!! MANCHESTER UNITED WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!!

Ryan Giggs: GOAL! 6-5 No mistakes from Ryan Giggs.
Salomon Kalou: GOAL! 5-5 the young Kalou scores calmly!
Anderson: GOAL! 5-4 Anderson shoots it right through the middle!
Terry slipped away just when he was about to hit the ball.
John Terry: MISS!! John Terry hits the right post and United are still alive!
Nani: GOAL! 4-4 This time it's Cech that is close, but the ball goes in!
Ashley Cole: GOAL! 3-4 Van der Sar almost has it but the ball squeezes through!
Owen Hargreaves: GOAL! 3-3
Frank Lampard: GOAL! 2-3 Chelsea have taken the lead!
Cristiano Ronaldo: SAVE!! Ronaldo stops during his run-up and then shoots it into the left corner but Cech saves!
Juliano Belletti: GOAL! 2-2
Michael Carrick: GOAL! 2-1

Michael Ballack: GOAL! 1-1
Carlos Tevez: GOAL! 1-0
United will begin this shootout.
United goalie Van der Sar has already been involved in a penalty shootout in a Champions League final. Against Juventus, his side Ajax lost in 1996.
The penalty shoot-out will point out which of the teams will be remembering this day as legendary, and which as dramatic.
FULL TIME EXTRA TIME
Minute 120+5: And Anderson comes on for Manchester, replacing Wes Brown.
Minute 120+4: Probably the last attack as Tevez heads wide. Belletti comes on for Makelele, which has everything to do with the penalty shootout which is now imminent.
Minute 120+2: Big clash in Chelsea's penalty area and two players are down. Nani and Ashley Cole need treatment.
Minute 120+1: Again, two minutes are added.
Minute 120: Giggs thinks to have a chance to close in on the goalkeeper but it's offside.
Minute 118: During this chaos, the yellow card has also been shown to Vidic. And now it's Essien that gets booked following a foul.
Minute 116: RED CARD - The match is over for Didier Drogba! The striker is sent off after hitting Vidic in the face. It probably seemed worse than it was but Michel has no mercy.
Minute 115: The tension is visible as the players involve themselves in a large and rather physical argument.
Minute 114: And another goes down with cramp. Chelsea defender Carvalho needs a moment.
Minute 114: Pressure now from Manchester United but Chelsea survive. Petr Cech eventually controls.
Minute 112: After Ballack earlier this match, it's now Drogba to give it a try. It's a fast shot, but it goes wide.
Minute 110: Yellow card to Nemanja Vidic as result of a challenge on Anelka. Chelsea also get a free kick.
Minute 109: Manchester United have hardly been able to scare Chelsea's defense since their goal in the first half. Cristiano Ronaldo has been invisible and Chelsea are the ones taking the initiative.
Minute 106: The action is back underway, at 1am local time.
HALF TIME EXTRA TIME - Still no decision in Moscow. If the next fifteen minutes go by without goals, a penalty shootout will be needed.
Minute 105+1: Carvalho gets his head to the ball but it goes wide of the far post.
Minute 105+1: Two minutes will be added to the first half of extra time. Chelsea get a corner meanwhile.
Minute 103: Carlos Tevez tries a shot on goal but Petr Cech makes no mistakes and collects.
Minute 102: And Ferguson makes his second change as well. Wayne Rooney has been largely invisible tonight and comes off for Nani.
Minute 100: John Terry saves his team as Evra comes into the penalty area and passes to Giggs, whose shot is deflected over the bar by Chelsea's skipper.
Minute 100: Anelka is another former Championd League winner. The Frenchman got to hold the trophy with Real Madrid in 2000.
Minute 99: Chelsea's second substitution as Nicolas Anelka replaces Joe Cole.
Minute 98: Essien dangerously enters the penalty area and forces United to give away a corner kick. Carvalho heads far wide though.
Minute 96: Injury treatment for Joe Cole. Another case of cramp, it seems.
Minute 94: Chelsea again hit the woodwork! Frank Lampard shoots from within the area but hits the crossbar. United are lucky again.
Minute 93: Florent Malouda comes off for Salomon Kalou, thanks to which we now have a fully Ivorian attacking duo.
Minute 92: Fluent combination between Tevez and Giggs, but Tevez can't take advantage of it and the attack is ended.
Minute 91: Extra time has begun and the players continue their exhausting battle for victory.
FULL TIME - Extra time will be needed as it's all equal between these two English giants.
Minute 90+2: A late dangerous moment as the ball sails through Chelsea's penalty area but nobody touches it.
Minute 90: Frustration rises for Chelsea as the Londoners should have received yet another corner kick, and again Michel thinks differently. Meanwhile, two minutes will be added.
Minute 87: And here's Giggs for his 759th match for United. The Welshman replaces Paul Scholes. With this amount of matches, Giggs breaks the old record of Bobby Charlton, who is present in Moscow as well.
Minute 86: We're slowly but surely closing in on extra time. Or will someone manage to decide this match before?
Minute 84: Sir Alex Ferguson is about to bring on the veteran Ryan Giggs, who also played in United's last Champions League final in 1999.
Minute 82: Carlos Tevez tries a shot but the Argentinian sends it just past the left post.
Minute 80: Drogba just fails to reach the ball, which had entered the area from the left side.
Minute 78: Chelsea almost score their second! Didier Drogba launches a beautiful shot on goal but it bounces off the right post.
Minute 77: Chelsea want a spotkick as Malouda goes down in the penalty area, seemingly as result of a Rio Ferdinand touch. United get away with it.
Minute 75: Again no real danger from the corner kick as Ronaldo fails to get his head to the ball properly.
Minute 74: Another corner kick to United. It did look like Ronaldo's shot remained untouched but Michel decides differently.
Minute 73: The corner comes to nothing as someone fouls Peter Cech.
Minute 73: Makelele doesn't seem too hurt anymore but has to leave the pitch, following protocol.
Minute 71: Corner kick to Manchester, but they'll have to wait a moment as now it's Makelele to need injury treatment.
Minute 70: Looks like it was just cramp as Ferdinand is back in action.
Minute 69: Rio Ferdinand down on the pitch. The defender injured his leg while clearing a ball and the question is whether he'll be able to go on.
Minute 67: And another corner to Chelsea, this time from the right. It's not dangerous though and United clear easily.
Minute 66: The Blues now get a corner kick and captain John Terry heads over the bar.
Minute 65: Chelsea get a free kick at about 30 meters. Too far to shoot on goal so it's swung into the area. Carrick stands in the right spot and gets it away.
Minute 62: Ballack brings the ball into the area twice but United clear in both occasions. That did look a little chaotic though.
Minute 60: United aren't happy with the linesman, who stands about two meters away when Makelele hits an opponent in the face with his elbow, but refuses to act.
Minute 58: A unique detail is that it's now just past midnight in Moscow. Which date will appear on the trophy afterwards?
Minute 58: Michael Ballack tries his luck from a distance but the ball curles just away from the right post.
Minute 57: Chelsea are stronger in this phase, and it's impossible to say which side will be the happier one at the end of the night.
Minute 55: Essien shakes off a defender but then shoots the ball over the crossbar. Lucky for United that it wasn't on goal as Van der Sar slipped away when reacting to the shot.
Minute 54: Danger in front of Chelsea's goal as Patrice Evra sends in a cross, but it's just too high to be received by a teammate.
Minute 52: Michel now makes a mistake though, as Chelsea deserve a corner kick but the referee decides that Joe Cole touched the ball last.
Minute 51: Ballack is visibly annoyed when Cristiano Ronaldo goes down too easily, in the German's opinion. Michel avoids further troubles.
Minute 49: Just like in the first half, the first few minutes of the second are relatively calm.
Minute 46: The match is back underway. In 45 minutes we might know who are the 2008 Champions of Europe.
HALF TIME - The first half is over and the score is 1-1. United were probably the better side but Chelsea did get closer to a goal in the last phase of the half, with the eventual equaliser as result.
Minute 45+2: Yellow card for Ricardo Carvalho after a foul on fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo.
Minute 45: GOAL CHELSEA (1-1) - FRANK LAMPARD scores from the rebound after a shot by Michael Essien is blocked by a defender!
Minute 44: Michael Ballack takes it but it goes about 30 centimeters over the crossbar.
Minute 43: Rio Ferdinand is booked for a foul just outside the penalty area. Chelsea get a dangerous free kick.
Minute 43: Another great chance for Tevez. Rooney sends in a low cross from the right which is missed by the defender, but Tevez comes just to late to reach the ball.
Minute 41: Ashley Cole wants a penalty after a push from Wes Brown, but only the shoulders were used and Michel waves play on.
Minute 35: Chaos on the other side now. Cech first needs to save a low Tevez header and then has to stand in the way of a shot from Carrick in the rebound. Both keepers show their worth at the moment.
Minute 34: Almost an equaliser as a short pass from Drogba is almost headed in by Ballack but Van der Sar makes a great save.
Minute 33: A quick moment of concern for Chelsea. Didier Drogba seems affected by a challenge but the Ivorian seems able to continue.
Minute 30: It's a deserved lead for United, who have been slightly dominant in the first thirty minutes. Paul Scholes was important there as he formed the base of the attack.
Minute 27: GOAL MANCHESTER UNITED (1-0) - CRISTIANO RONALDO. Paul Scholes finds Wes Brown whose following cross is met by Cristiano Ronaldo's head. The ball flies into the left corner and Cech has no chance!
Minute 25: Anderson leaves the bench to begin warming up.
Minute 23: Dangerous moment as a high ball from Frank Lampard is headed over Van der Sar's goal by United's Nemanja Vidic.
Minute 23: Update on that - Makelele received a yellow card as well.
Minute 22: Paul Scholes receives treatment after a clash with Claude Makelele, and the Mancunian is surprisingly provided with a yellow card by referee Lubos Michel.
Minute 19: Manchester United get a corner kick but the ball is missed by everybody in the crowded penalty area.
Minute 16: Cristiano Ronaldo shows his great skills on the left wing, getting past Essien before crossing the ball to Hargreaves but the latter misses the ball.
Minute 14: Ashley Cole has come off the pitch for a moment to get new shoes. The defender wants more grip as clearly some are struggling to stay on their feet.
Minute 11: After ten minutes neither side has created real chances. If anything, Manchester United have been the more threatening side.
Minute 8: Again danger coming from Hargreaves. This time he has a cross headed away by a defender.
Minute 6: An Owen Hargreaves cross from the right wing is deflected by Ashley Cole but goalkeeper Cech remains focused and collects.
Minute 3: The first three minutes took place in midfield. Question is how long it takes for one of the teams to test the other's goalkeeper.
Minute 0: The 2008 Champions League final in Moscow is underway!

Saturday, March 17, 2007

One of the darkest days in Indian cricket history,Bangladesh caused a shock by beating India by 5 wickets (with 9 balls remaining) in Group B at the WC at the Queen's Park Oval, Port Of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. I watched only the first few overs of this match and left to PVR Cinemas with my friend to watch Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto". Eventhough it was the first week of release we didnt have any difficulty in getting the tickets, thanks to this cricket crazy nation.

Over the past decade, India always had difficulties in the World cup especially at the start of the tournament. During the 1999 world cup we lost the first match to South Africa, at Hove which was expected and then that shocking defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe. We came back strong enough beating Kenya,SriLanka, and England in the next 3 games and reached the Super Sixes where we eventually lost.

The story continued in the 2003 World cup where we scrapped thorugh our first game against Holland and suffered a massive defeat against the mighty Aussies. After that Thanks to God (Sachin) and very good captaincy by Dada that we reached the finals of that World Cup.

I was hoping that India doesn't commit the same mistake in the 2007 World cup as the format was changed and 2 defeats in the round robin stage might prove Fatal and the loss to Bangladesh on this same date one year ago was indeed shocking. We need to give due credit to the Bangla players and their coach Dav Whatmore for spriging this upset. The next day it was the time for the Pakistanis to lose to Ireland which was even more shocking. Ind vs Pak tie became Bangladesh vs Ireland.

Monday, March 17, 2008,

Looking at the Indian team today I am feeling very pleased and happy. This young side have in them to be world beaters and they have already proved it in the T20 WC and also in CB series down under. It is very heartening to see the selectors and the board supporting Dhoni in choosing this young side keeping the 2011 world cup in mind.

So many changes in an year.. AMAZING!!!!

Saddest Day in Indian Sports History

The Picture says it all... India failing to qualify for Olympics for the first time in 8 decades...

India's National Game : RIP

Is Dhoni the new Ganguly of Indian cricket?

Nice Article in Yahoo.... And I agree to all that is written.... Dhoni is Indian cricket's future....


Thu, Feb 28 01:10 AM

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is not all beef and neither he is all pulp. His strength does not come only from a physical frame that would do a boxer proud.

Beneath a hardened exterior that conveys the impression of a man not given to too much thinking, is someone who knows his mind better than those who interpret him. The stubborn streak in him, as evident in his taking unpopular and, at times, even illogical decisions, is not because he thinks less and acts more.

As more events unfold and he grows into the job, it should become obvious to most of us that there could be a well thought out method to what many think is just madness. No fear of failure Compared to someone like the urbane Rahul Dravid, who would appear to think first and act later, Dhoni somehow appears to combine the two acts without burdening himself with the fear of failure.

He does not seem to care what people think of his actions nor does he cow down to the 'rantings' of experts who must always appear better qualified to pass judgement on events that have already taken place. Dhoni does not care if a Sunil Gavaskar finds harsh words like 'senseless and useless' for a player and questions his selection in the team.

He wanted five bowlers in the team, had faith in Munaf Patel and played him again. It may be just his way of saying: thanks for your advice but I am the man in charge and I know better.
You do your job, and I will do mine. After winning against Australia in the T-20 World Cup, he told Ravi Shastri on camera that he and his team had proved his reading of the game wrong.
The words had enough stress in them to convey his displeasure, but the smiling face accompanying those words had done more than enough to soften that barb. Now in Australia where he is handling two fronts -- the game and the delinquent sledging -- his team has not been a great success so far.

Despite India making it to the finals, Australia still look unbeatable and his backing of the young turks has not shown great results. A new Ganguly? He did not want seniors in the team and stuck to his guns, much to the chagrin of many.

For many, former captain Sourav Ganguly is his mentor. Yet when it came to what he thought was the future of his team, he shunted him out.

Today, after the openers' failures, is he missing the presence of Ganguly? Going by what one can read of the man, certainly not. He would rather lose, backing his gameplan than compromise on what he believes is the way ahead.

In many ways, he is the new Ganguly of Indian cricket. May be much calmer from the outside, but someone who is going to be there for those on whom he has faith.

Ganguly, through his steadfast support to those who were talented and his aggressive approach, transformed the Indian team. Backing Yuvraj Dhoni ticked off Yuvraj-baiters with the line 'he will play all matches' backed his vice captain and won him over.

He has also assuaged any resentment Yuvraj may have had for having been overlooked for captaincy. Does Dhoni have it in him to take this team one step ahead? Does he have the same eye as Ganguly to spot matchwinners? He sure has the mental strength to transform his approach to his batting and so far in Australia he has reined himself in so much that boundaries and sixes from his blade have been a rarity.

Yet he has not failed with the bat and has given his team solidity in the middle overs without which India would have embarrassed themselves. He is going to be confronted with many severe tests, one of them being his relative failure as a batsman in Tests.

But for the moment, Dhoni is in the saddle and all seems well with the team. PS: Can we all move ahead and not make so much of a fuss about what Hayden has to say about Harbhajan and vice-versa.

Can we in the press too show greater maturity and not make Hayden finding Harbhajan an 'obnoxious little weed' the most important story emanating from Australia. Let Harbhajan retaliate and call Hayden the most 'obnoxious ox' to some radio station and let us get on with the game.

The young Indian Brigade

It is very heartening to see India’s new look team performing so well in the ODI series in Australia. To be frank, I didn’t expect them to play well especially the batsmen after Dravid and Dada were dropped from the squad. The way Gautam saved India in the rain washed Srilanka’s game in Brisbane or the calmness and courage Rohit showed with Dhoni in the famous MCG win on Sunday were simply amazing.

Over the past decade I am bored of seeing good young talent failing to utilize the opportunity given to them by the selectors even though they are very good in the domestic level. But the young talent that is on show now is not doing the same mistake. The selectors have made the right decision (atlast) in picking up this young side considering the 2011 World cup. With Sachin in the team and the most demanding conditions to play in the world (Australia) against the best ODI sides in the world, this team will only improve from here. Once Zaheer comes back I am sure that there will be more experience to this promising bowling attack.

It will be great if all the young players like Tiwary, Raina, Karthick are given good opportunities so that they can easily fit in the team if Yuvraj, Rohit or Uthappa fails or gets injured. We need a great pool of 20 players fit and fighting for their places in the Indian team for the WC. There will be failures, disappointments, loses with this new look team but we need to persist with them for our future considering the talent they have.

I am confident that this Indian side have in them to be world beaters and I wish them All the very Best.

Beware!!!! The young Indian Brigade is coming J