Live The Pitch

Manchester United took the next step in repeating as the top team in the UEFA Champions League Wednesday, April 15, at Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal. Man. U squeezed out at 1-0 victory against FC Porto to advance to the semifinal round in the final phase of this year’s tournament.

For the first five minutes both teams played possession soccer as each team was trying to feel out the other squad. In the sixth minute Cristiano Ronaldo changed all that when he received the ball around 40 yards out.

He took 2 quick touches and drilled home the goal of the year. The Porto keeper had absolutely no chance as Ronaldo scored one for the ages.

The rest of the half was dominated by Manchester United. Nemanja Vidic of United should have made it 2-0 right before half, but his shot from inside the six went flying over the cross bar.

In the second half FC Porto came out with a purpose to tie the game, but United’s back line proved to be up to the challenge. In my opinion Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were the players of the match.

Porto had a few decent chances but could not break through the Manchester defense. Overall this was not a bad performance by The Red Devils, but their play will have to improve if they hope to advance.

Good luck in the semifinals!

There is no doubt that watching the final leg of  the quarterfinal between Liverpool and Chelsea was a treat for us all.  Chelsea went into the game with a score of 3-1 on aggregate so Liverpool had a huge mountain to climb.  This was a back and forth affair that no one wanted to end.  It had the making of on of the greatest matches in recent history between two English Premier league powers.

The scoring started when Fabio Aurelio of Liverpool struck a free kick to the near post completely fooling Chelsea gk Petr Cech.  It was just awful goalkeeping from arguably one of the  best keepers in the world.  Liverpool made it 2-0 with Xabi Alonso finishing off a penalty into the left corner of the net.  Overall both teams had their share of chances in the first half but Liverpool still needed more.

The second half of the match in my opinion was the best half of soccer I have seen in a long time….

Didier Drogba got Chelsea on the board with a flick off a cross that cought the Liverpool keeper off guard in the 51st minute.  Then just six minutes later Chelsea defender Alex struck the goal of the year.  From about 25 yards out Chelsea was awarded a direct free kick that Alex surprisingly struck and he hit a perfect shot that was knuckling from his initial impact of the ball.

Liverpool would change thier tactics throughout the second half and now needing a miracle they were caught pushing players forward when Frank Lampard found the net in the 76th minute.  Chelsea took the lead 3-2 and it seemed there was no hope for Liverpool.  Yet they would not give up.

Liverpool came back and score again off a deflection in the 81st minute with Lucas getting credit for it.   Just one minute later Dirk Kuyt would net home a great header from a cross from the outside midfield.  This made the score 4-3 Liverpool with Chelsea looking stunned on the field.

Liverpool was extremely close to netting a 5th if not for Michael Essien saving a shot off the line with his head.  Liverpool was pushing everyone forward trying to get one more goal when Frank Lampard put Chelsea into the next round in the 89th minute with a shot that hit both posts!

Final Score 4-4!  Chelsea advances to the semifinals with a final score of 7-5.