Signs. Diagrams. Alphabets. Words.: footie dose.

In spite of the most recent outcome, which football enthusiasts worldwide should know, I constantly reiterate my stand that penalty shootouts is probably the most cruel way to decide a cup final. Not just for the spotkick takers and the keepers involved, but also for the fans watching the match live, with gritting teeth, hyper-stimulated adrenaline as well as a heart-stopping aura enveloping all fans of their teams involved, knowing that the tides could change...

UEFA Champions League Final Season 2007-08
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia

A game of 2 English teams playing a UEFA Champions League final on Russian soil. A 1st for England. For Chelsea, its their 1st appearance in a European Cup final, for Man Utd, they're gunning for their 3rd European title in their whole history. Man Utd want to paint the Red Square even redder while Chelsea, look to turn it to the "Blue" Square.

The game started with an imperious display from Man Utd, convincingly dominating possession as well as chances, making Chelsea looking sub-standard in the early exchanges of the game. And eventually, something had to come out of it.

A pinpoint cross from Wes Brown (with his weaker foot, no less) floats perfectly for the unmarked Cristiano Ronaldo who assuredly heads it past a helpless Petr Cech.

After this, United continue to dominate play with 2 more should-have-been-a-goal opportunities spurned. But after this, United would live to regret that, for as I have dreaded, Chelsea revitalized and started pinning United in their own half, instead. From the later parts of the 1st half, all the way right till extra-time. And with a (double) stroke of luck, a double deflection proviced Frank Lampard with the perfect opportunity at the right time with the right dose of luck.

Bang. 1-1. And thats the way it stayed till the end of regulation time, and subsequently, extra time and finally the dreaded penalty shootout. And lots of mm-close chances that, if all went in, the score might have been 4-4.
Can't find the pics for those. Argh.

And towards the end of extra time (for the uninitiated, its an additional 1/2 hour, after 90 minutes of "normal" time played). Didier Drogba, thought to be the player Chelsea are pinning their hopes on scoring the crucial, pivotal goal to lift them the cup, does this instead.

Drogba (4th from left) slaps Man Utd defender Nemanja Vidic (pic unavailable, sadly) and gets the red card. The walk of shame out of the Luzhniki Stadium, in what might be his last game in Blue.

Then, the penalty shootout. Nerves of steel aren't enough. They need nerves of unbreakable titanium. In a penalty shootout where luck and fortune plays an equally important role as is composure and courage under duress, the tides CAN change.

And it did.

Tevez and Ballack both scored the 1st spot kicks for their respective teams, followed by Carrick and Belletti. And then.....

Ronaldo, Man Utd's goal scorer earlier in the game, has his spot kick saved by Cech. While Lampard converts Chelsea 3rd spotkick. After Hargreaves, Ashley Cole and Nani convert their spotkicks, Chelsea with a spotkick in hand, and with that spotkick to confirm their victory. Terry walked up to the spot, to take Chelsea's decisive penalty. Man Utd fans all over the world (including me, and possibly some parts of the universe, hmm) gritted their teeth (if any). Clothes cover the mouth. Fervent prayers offered. With hope that some miracle from the heavens will shine on the lump of grass Terry walks on, with some hoping for a rare slip. For if Terry scores, it'll be Chelsea's 1st European Cup in their 1st attempt.

John Terry, the unshakable rock in Chelsea's defence, and who had denied Man Utd in claiming victory earlier in the game, went up, slipped as he took what would've been the decisive penalty, and spot kicks go in to sudden death. Which, ends with United lifting the trophy for only the 3rd time in their history after Anelka misses his spot kick, after Giggs, Man Utd's longest serving player who made his 759th appearance as a substitute in this game, converted his spotkick.

UEFA Champions League Final Season 2007-08
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia
Champions of Europe 2007-08: Manchester United.
Man Utd (w) 1 - 1 Chelsea
Man Utd win 6-5 on penalties, after extra time