Showing posts with label Ronaldo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ronaldo. Show all posts

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Football. Bloody hell.

Another topsy-turvy day in the English Premier League.

After watching Liverpool set themselves on the way to a 3-1 victory at Hull courtesy of a cheating little Argentinian and reclaim top spot on goal difference, it was time to settle down to the real action, Manchester United v Tottenham.

The day seemed to take a turn for the worse when Tottenham went in at half time with a surprising 2-0 lead. I tried cheering myself up by telling my Wife about the game a few years agao at White Hart Lane when Tottenham were 3-0 up at half time and United came out 5-3 winners. I was probably just trying to convince myself it wasn't all over.

United got a fortunate penalty which Ronaldo tucked away to give us a glimmer of hope. I say fortunate because I've seen a lot of similar challenges go unpunished but the Tottenham goalkeeper did make contact with Michael Carrick and a penalty was the right decision.

Wayne Rooney hit the equaliser 10 minutes later, and set Ronaldo up for the third just a minute later and the game was turned on it's head. There was no stopping United now with Rooney getting his second, United's fourth.

Even Dimitar Berbatov got in on the action, forcing in a fifth against his old club.

This certainly made a refreshing change from the scrappy 1-0 wins that have seen United through this far in the season. I think the game was coming where they would find things going their way, even if it was just the second half today.

Hopefully this result will boost their confidence and give them the momentum to see them through to the end of the season. United need three wins from the last five league games to clinch the title for the third year running.

There's also the small matter of the Champions League Semi-final against Arsenal. Teams often get in the habit of winning. Maybe this was the game that reminded United what they are capable of.

It's been a crazy few weeks whatever team you follow, reminding us all why we love this game. In the words of Sir Alex Ferguson: Football. Bloody hell.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Injury time winner

I think the momentum has now swung back in Manchester United's favour after the last gasp win over Aston Villa.

After two successive defeats, the title race has been thrown wide open and this afternoon at Old Trafford United were on the verge of a third defeat in a row to leave Liverpool at the top of the table but a 92nd minute winner keeps the title in United's hands.

It was a frustrating game, especially after a mistake by Ronaldo gave Villa the break from which they took the lead but I think the nature of the win will lift United more than a victory that came courtesy of a 60th minute goal.

The reaction of the players at the final whistle shows how much retaining the title means to them and this will hopefully lift them out of the slump of the last few weeks in time for the Champions League quarter final tie with Porto.

If the winner hadn't come in this game, the momentum would've undoubtedly stayed with Liverpool after a 92nd minute winner of their own against Fulham.

It was a makeshift team for United, especially in defence with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic out, as well as Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney and it was 18 year old debutant Federico Macheda who clinched the win with a brilliant turn in the area. He was booked for his celebration after running into the crowd and hugging what must've been a close friend or family member but it was worth it.

My brother is in town this weekend and it was one of those rare occasions where my Dad, myself and him got to watch the game together and for most of the second half it looked like it wouldn't be a happy one but the noise when the third goal went in must've woken the neighbours!

Whatever happens now, it's definitely been one of the most interesting Premier League seasons for a while and we're now just six weeks or so away from finding out if United can hang on to clinch that record equalling 18th title.