The battle of the heavyweights was just that. Neither Man U nor Real Madrid could push the winner into the back of the net and thus the result was a one all draw. But folks this is the key Sir Alex and the boys scored the all-important away goal. This could be huge when the guy’s head back to Old Trafford for the second leg on March 5th.
Danny Welbeck gave the mighty boys from Old Trafford the lead in the twentieth minute. The Rooney Man and Welbeck teamed up off a corner kick to poke home the winner. Real Madrid is very bad on set pieces. This has been Los Blancos down fall all year.
Cristiano Ronaldo nailed the equalizer ten minutes later. Ronaldo noodled home the winner past David de Gea in the 30th minute. And that was it folks. Both the Red Devils and the Los Blancos had great chances to get the winner however both keepers came up huge to keep this puppy level at one all.
Real had the statistical advantage but stats don’t win matches scoring more goals than your opponent does. Jose Mourinho’s side couldn’t do it and thus are in the hole on away goals.
David de Gea can be a clown in net but on this night he was the stopper. He came up big on some great shots by Ronaldo and the rest of his mates.
Sir Alex and the boys were out shot 28 to 13. Real Madrid had 61 percent of the possession but this is misleading for most of the time the rock was not in the danger zone.
To use a football term once a team gets in the red zone, this means inside the twenty-yard line, you have to score touchdowns. Real Madrid fired blanks. Or in golf terms drive for show and putt for dough.
This has been Real’s problem all season long and this is why Los Blancos is sixteen points off the leader board.
Sir Alex told Fox Soccer that Cristiano Ronaldo is at his peak. “Cristiano is a better player than when he left us because of his maturity,” said Ferguson. “He is at the peak of his career now.
“He was still a young man when he left and you can see how he has flourished in Madrid.
“His fitness, speed, goals – and he’s never injured. That is unique in the modern game.
“I never thought he’d get the amount of goals he’s scored. I knew he’d improve. I knew he was one of the best players in the world. But to score the goals he has is phenomenal.”
Ferguson added that his club can challenge for the Champions League Title. “Our team is capable of winning the Champions League,” said Ferguson.
“There is a great spirit about them. People keep saying we’re not as good as past United teams but then sometimes we get foggy impressions about the past. I do so myself at times.
“But the reality is this team doesn’t know when it is beaten, which is a great quality. I have no doubt in my mind the acid test is [tonight].
“It’s unfortunate we’re meeting this early. I wish it had been at Wembley.
“But we can’t think of failing. We have to get through if we are to win this trophy.”
Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Dortmund tied two all. The German side has two away goals and thus the Ukraine will have to score at least twice in Germany to advance. Shakhtar was leading 2-1 late in the match. Borussia Dortmund scored the equalizer in the 87th minute to send the Ukrainian side home thinking what could have been. Mats Hummels header gave the German side the second away goal. This could come back and haunt Shakhtar in the return leg that will be played on March 5th.
This is it from Bobby Gee and the De Futebol zone.
Gunner for life.
Two professional soccer franchises worth collectively in excess of $3.5 billion and literally a couple billion more of soccer talent on the field and all Los Galacticos and the marauding Red Devils could provide us with , was a 1-1 tie ? Couldn’t someone have mistakenly turned the lights off for 30 minutes just as they did in New Orleans ? Perhaps that could have added to the thrills and excitement or lack it thereof for some of the game ?
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Oh the incompetence shown by the city of New Orleans , utilities’ provider, Entergy , the organizing committee , LSED , owners of the Superdome .
Kind of mirrors the growing incompetence of the US Congress and this administration of Obama’s ! Let’s throw $hit up against a wall and see what sticks , and they will carry on from there ! LOL,LOL,LOL !!!
Tophatal ……………
This the way it ended. Both clubs had their chances but in the end Sir Alex and the boys got the all important away goal.
And that is most definitely an added incentive for Man Utd , because if they slip up in the return leg on the 5th March , 2013 , it’s curtains for their hopes in the Champions League
Tophatal ………..
Man U was robbed at the end of the match, Most refs would allow the one final corner kick but the ref didn’t. this was pure bull crap. This match was full of good futebol. Both keepers came up big especially David de Gea. he made great point blank saves.
You know what , the refs will always find a way to interject themselves into a game of this importance , and in doing so, they create a great deal of controversy .
I know. What can be done about it ?
I know that in the FA the referees’ match reports are looked over by the league’s officiating hierarchy made up current and former league referees , who also reprise game films to monitor a referee’s and his sideline officials’ performances . I think in a case where they have made multiple mistakes during a game , then they should be given a written warning ! Where they happen to be a repeat offender then they should be suspended and required to take some additional training .