BARCELONA PUTS ON CLASSIC DISPLAY TO WIN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 29 May 2011
In one of the most enthralling displays of football, the brilliant Barcelona squad anchored around the dazzling "Man of the Match" Lionel Messi mesmerized English Premier League champions Manchester United to win the Champions League Final 3-1 before 87,695 fans at the historic Wembley Stadium early Sunday morning Manila Time in a match telecast ?live? by ABS-CBN?S cable channel BALLS and replayed on Studio 23.
After an initial 10 minute thrust by Manchester United, Barcelona settled into their rhythm and put on a stunning display of passing, superb touch and clinical finishing behind a midfield that controlled some 66 percent in terms of possession to win the symbol of European supremacy. It was Barca?s second Champions Cup in three years and the fourth in the Spanish club?s storied history .
Beaten Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson had no choice but to shake his head and concede that Barcelona was ?the best team I have faced.? Winning manager ?Pep? Guardiola, the former Barcelona defensive midfielder who is 40 years old said it would be hard to duplicate Barca?s feat against Manchester United next year.
In a move that mesmerized ManU, Xavi outfoxed the English defenders and slid a delicate pass through to Pedro who beat Edwin Van der Sar who was playing his final game, all ends up to put Barcelona in front.
Manchester United with a hint of offside let go by the linesman scored against the run of play when Wayne Rooney played a superb one-two with veteran Ryan Giggs surely seeing his last European final and thundered a shot into the corner of the net to send the ManU fans into raptures.
The equalizer only served to stir the sleeping Catalan giants and soon after halftime they showed their intent. Within seven minutes of the resumption Van Der Sar produced a magnificent save to deny Alves while Evra cleared an attempt by Messi off the line.
Moments later the magical Messi produced a moment of sheer brilliance as he sliced through the United defense and slammed a cracker past the ManU goalkeeper . Van der Sar was again called upon to block a blast by Messi and moments later made a brilliant save to keep out a curling shot off the boot of Xavi.
The issue was settled in the 70th minute when a deft chip by World Cup hero David Villa flew into the top corner of the net to give Barca a 3-1 lead and a title they richly deserved.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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