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!!

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