Snapped them, the DEVILS WAY!

17th April,2010.

The day all Manchester fans had been awaiting. a day Manchester was divided in two - City and United!! The boys in blue up against the MEN in Red. The MANCHESTER DERBY was here. This encounter was a crucial fixture for both teams, as they looked to write their dominance.

With United looking to inch closer to Chelsea and City trying to stay in the fight for fourth, possibly qualify for the Champions League play-off, this match was staged perfectly. BELIEVE was the feeling in every Red Devil as the kick-off approached. After a disappointing goalless draw handed by Blackburn Rovers,United  needed to win this to stay in the title hunt.

Another news that did the rounds - Wayne Rooney makes a start. A major question -Why does Sir Alex Ferguson wants to take the risk when his main man isn't a total 100%??? But as typical Fergie, playing mind games with his opposition is what he does best. He took a gamble on the talisman again. Hopes of a United revival, a quest to win back pride and to do it for the fans, yes United were under pressure going in.

 The first kick-off the weekend, a huge derby, a delight for both set of fans, goals galore - lets put it, "EXPECTATIONS WERE TO BE MET!!"

The match saw both teams fight for the ball. It was a WHO HAS THE MORE POSSESSION competition. To everybody's surprise, United old foes Neville, Giggs and Scholes were handed a start and  it was a decision I thought was calculated atrocious. Last 3 City games, saw them score 14 goals with their top strikers, Tevez and Adebayor striking a good partnership. The pace of Johnson, Wright-Phillips and Bellamy was supposedly a major problem, and as Paul Masefield said,'UNITED SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IN PACE!!" - kept tingling in my head too.

City were dominating, while United were gifting possession - frustration for United fans. It made me feel restless and I was filled with spate. City created a few chances but nothing they could boast off. The Argentine Hot-Bomb looked at his best and almost made United wonder why they let him go. An acute free-kick towards the far-left, but our God In Disguise, Edwin Van Der Saar made it look simple as he flung to cut it off.

United on the other hand had several opportunities. Fletcher shot a volley that flew past the keeper. But the best chances fell to "Ryan-The Legend-Giggs" and "Wayne-The White Pele-Rooney". Antonio Valencia, who has been superb for United in his debut season, fed a low-cross to Giggs, who tried to sneak it past Given, only to complete an easy save. Rooney turned Kompany with a brilliant move, and snatched a left only to see it go wide. My heart drooped - Rooney had missed a terrific chance to nail City. The match that looked a meaty avocation was far away from being called a DERBY!!

Second half, United put the meddle on the peddle and started looking a more superior side to score. But with City's defense in total strength, United were left sulking. The moment I waited for came in the 75th minute when Fergie heard my plea. He took off Rooney and in came Berbatov. Also, Gibson who had a terrific outing agaisnt the German Champions was substituted by Nani, and United now looked balanced. In the dieing moments of the match, Nani crossed a superb ball in to the box, Giggs a whisker away from getting his head on it.

Gabriel Obertan - a late entrant switched flanks with Nani and United looked to make up for their draw last weekend. 90 minutes up and the shouts of another INFAMOUS DRAW started to quiver. But not to be. If anybody, but the United and City fans remember, the last encounter of both these clubs, they would surely say,"The game isn't done until INJURY TIME is over!!' Last time, United crashed City's hopes of ending a draw when Michael Owen scored an unlikely winner for the Devils in the 96th minute through a Giggs cross (A day I almost ran my parents and neighbors deaf when I screamed in victory!!) It was DEJAVU time for City who were on the verge of accepting their fate. 3 minutes into added time, Patrice Evra, whose been a terrific Devil for us, crossed the ball. Of all men, the tiny old legged horse, Paul Scholes met the ball with his GINGER-HEAD, and what happened after that was sheer unexplainable scene. The City of Manchester was officially conquered by the MEN IN RED, a league double over their bitter rivals, sending me and fellow United fans into total jubilation. This win moved United within a point of table-toppers Chelsea, who have a tough game against Tottenham Hotspurs. (Pray the Blues lose!!)

God wears Red because he is a United ardent. For I BELIEVE in HIM and UNITED!!! One God, One Heart, One United!!

Red Devil!!

Boom - Its the Spurs show!!

15th April,2010.

Watching a mid-night game with your bitter rivals in picture is something I don't enjoy at all. But yes, I wanted to stay up, wanted to watch them lose, watch them get battered, banter my GUNNER pals, the same they did when United were knocked off the European Championship last week. But for some reason, I was in a merciful mood and wanted Gooners to put up a show. I had told my pal I was on her side tonight, just for some moral support,(SARCASM flowing down my spine) in case Tottenham blow the Gunners.

White Hart Lane (I love the name) was the perfect reservation for the much awaited London Derby. For records, Spurs hadn't beaten Gunners for over ten years, so this was playing on Harry Redknapp's mind. With Arsenal looking to inch closer to the title and Tottenham strutting for a place in next years UEFA play-offs, the London Derby was an anxious affair for both teams.

One very critical, or I should say, a blessed news for the Gunners, their talismatic,agile and serious striker(Gooners will love me for this..), Robin Van Persie was declared fit and was in contention for the game. But he was benched, and maybe this was a little chance Wenger could've taken. He started without their charismatic captain, Fabregas and the Russian speed-bomb (Arshavin), both sidelined to injuries.

Spurs on the other hand had developed a formidable force, one that could sweep any opposition on a given day. But surprise,surprise, 19-year old, Danny Rose was handed his first game by Redknapp, immense confidence shown by the Spurs boss.

The game was a hefty meeting, with both set of players looking to dominate. Arsenal have had a number of deficits this season, to outline ONE - their keeper Manuel Almunia!! The Arsenal man has had a pretty on-off season with some spectacular showing and some..yeah you got it right!!

Arsenal looked to make an immediate mark on the game when Sol Campbell got his body on a Nasri cross, but Ekotto managed to clear it. The first meaningful attack by Spurs, and Arsenal looked lackluster in defense. Pavlyuchenko was offered a low cross by Kaboul, but Vermaelen blocked it, ball out for a corner. Gareth Bale, who has been in exceptional form for Spurs crossed the ball. But then it was the same Almunia Flop Show. The ball wasn't anywhere close to the keeper, yet he challenged to punch it, and so it fell to the grateful debutant Rose, who slammed a scorcher, undoubtedly one of the strikes for the Goal of the Season ! A killer blow delivered with his left and Arsenal hopes in deep water!

From here onwards, it was the Spurs march. Arsenal, tagged a passing unit were outdone in defence with the Spurs back-four providing solid resistance. Half-time in and Spurs were up by a goal, and hopes of a European spot drew closer.

For now, all eyes were on Wenger to play his trump-cards. But then it was a tad too late for surprises. With a goal under their belly the White Hart Laner's were the paramount unit. St. Nicklas Bendtner came close to scoring but as he is famous for, he shot past the goal-post. Wenger brought in THE-OOOO to inject some pace. But till then, the Tottenham tide was grappling the Gooners!

The resurrected Gareth Bale's efforts and hard-work in the midfield was finally rewarded. Defoe who looked a mere spectator on the field provided a cutting through ball and the Welshman smartly placed it in the corner. Spurs 2 nil up and on their way to a famous victory, one they were looking for since 1999.

A late introduction of the awaited Van Persie, and hopes of revival started flying. The Dutchman instantly inculcated some force amongst his mates and was on target, one with a brilliantly chested volley and the other where he tried his trademark curled free-kick. Heurelho Gomes was in inspired form and looked unbeatable as he stopped every Arsenal wave.

Spurs looked to pound towards another clean sheet, but not to be. A late goal by St. Bendtner, and a nervous 15 minutes for Tottenham to hold on. And so they did. A much needed victory and a UEFA spot just one point away, Spurs smashed Arsenal's hope of a the Barclay's Premier League title this year!! With both United (almost) and Arsenal (totally) out of contention (The latter sounds so good to my ears ...LMAO!!), let's say it is Chelsea's title to lose!!

Red Devil!!

Enter the Barclay's Around the World in 90 Minutes contest and share your best match-day experience while watching a Barclay's Premier League game and watch your favorite team play live in UK. Log on to www.barclaysfootball.com

This victory tasted Bitter!!

8th April, 2010.

For a Manchester United supporter, the word BELIEVE contained a huge importance. Yes we were being written off by pundits and other soccer laureates. But like always we BELIEVE. And so I did.

The night of the famous '99 was ringing in, Bayern Munich players breaking down after an elevated United handed them defeat at the stroke of full time. Revenge was up for grabs and Munich were set to play down United.

Last weeks first leg, United were on the brink of earning a respectable draw, but some sloppy defending and Bayern were leading 2-1 going into the final leg. Rooney limped of the pitch with a twisted ankle and speculated a 3 week lay off for our talisman.

But WE as United supporters always quote, we play as a TEAM and not a lone battle. And we did. A loss to Chelsea this weekend, a big blow to our title hopes, our heads were down. And all this to an additional player named OFFSIDE! But that was history.

Theater of Dreams, the mecca of English soccer lit up to a whopping 60,00 plus fans. I was surfing the web, when I read a friends status message on Facebook which said,'Rooney starts the game!!' My joy knew no bounds when I saw Rooney walk down to play the game. But I was apprehensive about the fact that he wasn't a 100%, I thought United were risking him.

The match kicked off. My dad and me watching the game, I promptly asked him,"So whose your money on??" My dad as always with his sarcastic reply,"The men in Black are snatching it!!" (I don't know why he always does that to me??) I had a impulsive feeling that a United mid-fielder was going to break the shackles, and yes this feeling turned into reality. Darren Gibson was handed a rare start and he proved why he is regarded as the best possible surrogate to take over from Paul Scholes. 3 minutes into the match and Gibson scored a sweet curler to hand United a lead. The score stood 2-2 on aggregate. The game was firmly in United's favor and pressure was on the Germans. They looked lackluster and were gifting possession to the Devils. The pressure mounted until it was too difficult for Hitler's boys to handle. Rooney picked up Valencia on the flanks and a typical wingers cross, he spotted Nani who flicked it past Butt. I was up on cloud nine.

United 2 goals to Bayern's nothing and the Roma encounter reminisced, where United thrashed them with 7 goals. But the perfect script started to seem a little imbalanced when Rooney started limping again. The chance that United took wasn't paying dividend as The White Pele hardly looked in the match. But despite this, United pulled another goal. Valencia provided another one for Nani and he blasted the net. United were 3 goals up and on their way to a third consecutive Semi-final.

The Germans had other ideas. They kept pressing for an equalizer and last weeks story was repeated. Mediocre defending, this time by Carrick and Bayern were back with Olic who timed it past a helpless Van der Saar. Half-time United still in control 3-1 up and 4-2 on aggregate.

At half-time, I really thought United would shift gears and go for the kill. They looked like doing so but this just wasn't our night. The Germans tactics of asking for a card for every tackle that United plunged on them was bearing fruits when Rafael was red-carded for pulling Ribery. The French mid-fielder romped towards the referee demanding a card and so the young Brazilian was sent-off. United were dissolved to 9 and a half men with Rafael out and Rooney in bad shape. Here Fergie could've played his cards right and brought in Berba for Rooney. Instead he called off Wayne and played O'Shea as the right-back. United a forged attacking side now stuck to defending. Nani had a glorious chance to complete his hat-trick, but failed and this was coming to haunt United.

The tide of the game now shifted towards Bayern with Ribery and Robben attacking the flanks, United men behind the half-line. The attacking behavior was destroyed and I was fuming with anger. 16 minutes from the full-time whistle, Bayern were handed a corner. Ribery squared the ball and picked Robben, and United hearts broke. The Dutch mid-fielder singled out the corner and slammed the ball past the United keeper.

The score now stood 4 goals all. But the disheartening away goals rule meant United were knocked off. My heart cried, my tears told the story, a dejected United faithful that I was. My momma while watching the United and Munich match highlights said,"Your team is going down, it's time you change your priorities!!" I told her,"I'd rather stop watching soccer than think of even supporting any other club!!!" Chin up Boys, we played a tough game and I am proud I am a United fanatic!! Devil Till I Live!!

Red Devil!!

Enter the Barclays Around the World in 90 Minutes contest and share your best match-day experience while watching a Barclays Premier League game and watch your favorite team play live in UK. Log on to www.barclaysfootball.com

Messi-ah!!

7th April, 2010.

The much awaited day was here. Nou Camp the stage, Barcelona and Arsenal players the cast. Couldn't have written a better script. After the controversial end to last weeks breath-taking piece of display by Barca, it was all for them to take away and mark their supremacy on why they are associated as THE GOD'S of the Modern Soccer World!

The return leg was a tough ask for the Men-in-White (3rd Kit). No Fabregas, no Arshavin - this game was sure to make them sweat. For Barca, they were without Puyol, who was red-carded relentlessly, Pique after he picked up a yellow was unavailable for the return leg. So it was a make-shift back four for Barca and ditto for Arsenal who had to make changes in the central line-up.

Arsenal were the odd favorites here, but yes they were determined. To my amazement and the Gooners, Barca cut-shot their expectation theory. What the world saw was an absolutely dazzling display of pure soccer acuteness by the Catalans, the same they showed last week.

First 20 minutes down, the possession meter was 73 to Barca and 27 to Arsenal. I was sure the men in purple were on a rampage. I flipped channels knowing this match was hands-down in Barcelona's favor. But when I switched back, the lanky Denmark man had scored (Hail St. Bendtner..Another fumbled finish!!) He put Gunners ahead and there was definitely some light at the end of the tunnel.

But as they say all good stories must come to an end, and yes Arsenal's joy was short-lived. What time was it?? It was the Messi-ah's time to showcase one of the finest exhibition of soccer anybody has seen lately. Lionel Messi tore apart Arsenal just three minutes after they scored. Scores leveled, aggregate 3-3.

Everytime that Messi touched the ball, he seemed to score with every opportunity. And so he did. A beautiful display of pure genius and Messi scored 3 within the first 45. What looked like the road to recovery was now a downhill ascend for the Gunners. Messi recorded a four goal thrashing, only the sixth man to join the elite class of players who have scored four in a European game.

An absolute genius at class and a team deserving to win, Barcelona stamped their authority on the European frontier. And as they say, "When God wants to play, all you can do is either sit or applaud!!" And applaud I did to the Catalan Giants!!

DEVIL FOR LIFE!!!


Enter the Barclays Around the World in 90 Minutes contest and share your best match-day experience while watching a Barclays Premier League game and watch your favorite team play live in UK. Log on to www.barclaysfootball.com