Happy Always: 03/20/09

Friday, March 20, 2009

Arvindran have a dance but he go push and bully him(???).

SMK Seksyen 4 2008

Gajen........Arvin......David........Kok Fai....Jack Chung....Me...Owen...Yogeesan....Abdullah...........

MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 INTER MILAN

United reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the third successive season – but the holders were made to work by a spirited Inter side.

After Nemanja Vidic had headed the Reds into an early lead, the Italian champions provided several nervy moments until Cristiano Ronaldo netted the all-important second goal five minutes after the restart.

It was a cushion United never looked like relinquishing and most of the 75,000 fans in attendance went home satisfied after another thrilling European night at Old Trafford.

So, the defence of the trophy continues and we’ll wait with baited breath to see who the Reds face next when the draw for the last eight is made on March 20.

As so often on the big occasions, Sir Alex Ferguson had looked to his experienced men to guide his side through, naming Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in midfield – the latter starting in his old-fashioned left-wing role.

There was the boost, too, of Rio Ferdinand in the starting XI; the defender was declared fit on Tuesday after recovering from the ankle knock he picked up against Fulham.

A deafening roar greeted the players as they took to the field, while Jose Mourinho received a cacophony of boos from the Stretford End as he made his way down the touchline. Thankfully, there was to be no repeat of the Portuguese dancing down it later.

Two early corners set the tone. From the second one, taken by Giggs, Vidic escaped Patrick Vieira to head home powerfully from eight yards. It was the perfect way for United to dispel any early nerves and the holders set about inflicting further damage on the Serie A leaders.

In the 19th minute, Patrice Evra sent Giggs scampering away down the left and his cross led to two strong penalty appeals. Both Walter Samuel and Dejan Stankovic seemed to handle the ball but referee Wolfgang Stark waved play on.

For half an hour, Inter were laborious in possession and short of ideas going forward. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was given short shrift when he went down too easily in a Ferdinand-John O’Shea sandwich on the edge of the box.

But the giant Swede reminded United of the precariousness of the single-goal lead when his header from Maicon’s free-kick bounced up and off Edwin van der Sar’s bar.

The Reds keeper made a superb fingertip save from a speculative Stankovic volley eight minutes before the break, and soon after United squandered an excellent chance.

Giggs squared for Wayne Rooney to dink first-time into the path of O’Shea, who found himself one-on-one with Julio Cesar but saw his shot smothered by the Inter keeper.

Inter were gradually warming to their task and, with United's midfield uncharacteristically sloppy in possession, the Italians missed two good chances in quick succession.

Firstly, Ibrahomovic curled in an enticing cross which Stankovic just failed to keep down, then the Inter striker fired just wide of van der Sar’s far post after running onto Mario Balotelli’s through-ball.When Balotelli flashed just wide immediately after the interval, it seemed United were set for another nervy 45 minutes. But then came Ronaldo’s goal – and, with it, breathing space for Sir Alex’s men.

Giggs jinked his way across field and eventually found Rooney on the left. The striker sent over a teasing cross and Ronaldo met it powerfully for his 16th goal of the season.

The goal set Old Trafford alight but Inter continued to threaten, with van der Sar called upon to parry Esteban Cambiasso’s dipping shot.

Adriano then replaced Stankovic and the striker almost made an instant impression when his scuffed volley from Cambiasso’s cross hit van der Sar’s upright.

By now the game was becoming stretched and United nearly had a third when Cesar blocked Dimitar Berbatov from close range after initially stopping an 18-yard drive Rooney, who had swapped positions with Giggs.

Ibrahimovic bundled into the side netting from close range, but Inter were running out of time as United looked increasingly secure, bolstered by the appearance of Anderson in place of Scholes.

Ronaldo almost bagged a second with five minutes left but Cesar got in the way of his trademark long-range free-kick.

That was the last meaningful chance as United held on comfortably to keep alive hopes of winning a historic five trophies this season.

Liverpool beat Man u the worst thing ever

It had looked rosy when Cristiano Ronaldo converted a first-half penalty, but an uncharacteristically nervy display at the back allowed Liverpool back into this match; and the subsequent 4-1 defeat means the Reds’ lead at the top is chopped to four points, albeit with a game in hand.

Ronaldo put United ahead but three defensive mistakes led to Liverpool goals, and Nemanja Vidic’s second-half sending-off, which preceded the visitors' third goal, put paid to taking any points. In truth, this wasn’t a great day at the office, it never quite clicked into place. But one thing is certain: this defeat must be used to propel the Reds forward in the title race. The team responds well to set-backs, and this is only a minor stumble.

United made three changes from the team that beat Internazionale in midweek. Whereas Sir Alex chose the experience of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs against Jose Mourinho’s men, the Reds boss favoured the energy and youthful vigour of Anderson and Ji-sung Park, while Carlos Tevez partnered Wayne Rooney in place of Dimitar Berbatov.

It must have stuck in the throats of Liverpool’s players and fans when United were welcomed onto the field as “the Champions of England, the Champions of Europe, and the Champions of the World”. Such is United’s dominance these days that the roles are reversed from when Liverpool dominated at home and abroad years ago.

The shouts of “United, United” were deafening as the teams kicked off, and the sheer gravity of how potentially decisive this match could be added extra spice, though it was hardly needed. Liverpool, who knew that they hadto win to keep alive their ailing title hopes, were forced into a change when Alvaro Arbeloa was injured during the warm-up and replaced by Sami Hyypia.

United made the early running, while Liverpool started with a game-plan of containment, a 4-5-1 formation aimed at constricting United’s free-flowing football, but the Reds were urged on by the fans, the coaching staff and Rooney screaming at his team-mates to press forward. The start typified both team’s styles; United brooding with attacking intent, Liverpool patient and poker-faced.

The visitors blinked first. Tevez slotted a pass through the channel to Park on 23 minutes, and the midfielder was wiped out by Pepe Reina – referee Alan Wiley had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Ronaldo stood poised ready to strike from twelve yards and his perfectly-placed kick was followed with a collective roar of approval and rousing “We shall not be moved” as Old Trafford bounced and rocked.

The lead lasted only five minutes, however, after a rare error from Vidic, who failed to deal with a high ball forward from Reina. Whether it was the intermittent spring sunshine or indecision, he let the ball bounce and Fernando Torres nipped the ball off his toes. The Serb stumbled and Torres was left to slip the ball past the onrushing Edwin van der Sar. It was a frustrating leveller, largely undeserved and just as the Reds had appeared to take control.

United immediately looked to make amends when Reina just held onto a deflected Ronaldo free-kick, and shortly before half time Michael Carrick sent a wicked shot just over the bar. Butseconds later Liverpool took the lead. Gerrard latched onto Torres’ pass and Patrice Evra brought him down. The Liverpool skipper calmly despatched his spot-kick, though Edwin guessed the right way.

In the second half, no doubt with Sir Alex’s words still ringing in their ears, the United players pressed forward, roared on by the Old Trafford crowd. Reina was twice lucky to escape after spilling crosses, once allowing the ball to rebound off his post, another dropped on the goal line. But neither occasion gleaned an equaliser. Nor did Ronaldo’s flashed cross on 63 minutes, or the return ball from Rooney which Tevez couldn’t quite reach. But United were definitely in the ascendancy.

Tevez had an even better chance on 70 minutes when Carrick’s lofted pass found him free in the area. He chested the ball down but could apply the finish. Shortly afterwards, United made a triple substitution with Berbatov, Scholes and Giggs coming on for Carrick, Anderson and Park. But United’s hopes of turning this match around were all but curtailed when Vidic was given a straight red card for hauling down Gerrard who was through on goal, and to make matters worse Fabio Aurelio curled the resulting free-kick into the top corner of van der Sar’s goal.

It all but snuffed out even the slimmest hopes of a Reds recovery and Andrea Dossena's late lob compounded matters and made this a day to forget. Liverpool may claim the bragging rights and a double over United in the league this season, but Sir Alex and co's sights are set on bigger prizes.