it's been a long time since i enjoyed football as much as i do today

gooooooooooooooooooooo chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

1-1 :dance:

 

btw... this Ayala is a real murder...

1-1 Chelski scored too

 

damn. i badly want them out

6

 

-0 ;)

Come on goal number 7

6-1, the comeback has started.

 

Only 4 more goals to go Roma.

6-1 Utd

 

Ref has had a good game, has let the game flow

7!!!!!! :dance:

7-1

 

 

:smug:

Good save from Canizares

1-2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

:dance: :dance:

3 English sides in the CL semi finals!!

 

Valencia 1-2 Chelski 2-3 agg

 

:stunned:

Excellent :D

Magic Man Utd hit seven past Roma

 

 

Man Utd 7-1 Roma (agg 8-3)

 

A scintillating display by Manchester United saw them tear Roma apart to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

 

Michael Carrick curled in United's opener and Alan Smith fired home before Wayne Rooney added their third of the night, finishing off a superb move.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo fired into the bottom corner and slid home a Ryan Giggs cross before Carrick smashed home a sixth.

 

Roma replied through Daniele De Rossi before Patrice Evra's low shot rounded off United's amazing 8-3 aggregate win.

 

There have been many memorable performances at Old Trafford down the years but few can compare to the display Sir Alex Ferguson's men put on here.

 

The scuffles outside the ground before kick-off were quickly forgotten once the game got underway, with United looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg.

 

Both sides showed attacking intentions in the opening minutes with Roma's Francesco Totti going closest with a fierce shot that fizzed past Edwin van der Sar's right-hand post.

 

But it was United who grabbed control of the tie with three goals in eight first-half minutes.

 

Carrick opened the scoring on 11 minutes when he picked up the ball from Ronaldo and bent the ball past a statuesque Doni.

 

Six minutes later it was 2-0 when Gabriel Heinze and Giggs combined before the Welshman flighted a perfect pass into the path of Smith, who finished with aplomb.

 

Rooney got in on the act soon after, timing his run superbly to slot home Giggs' low cross after the Italian side had been completely torn apart down the right flank.

 

A shell-shocked Roma side tried to respond and did go close when Phillipe Mexes headed a David Pizarro's free-kick wide.

 

But the visitors' attempts to find a way back into the game only succeeded in leaving themselves more vulnerable to United's pacey attack.

 

Carrick went close when he headed a Giggs corner at Doni but could not react quickly enough when the ball bounced straight back at him.

 

Ronaldo did make it 4-0 before half-time with a precise finish into the bottom corner after the Roma defence had made the mistake of inviting him to shoot.

 

United were quite simply superb, and they did not let up after the break either.

 

Ronaldo, who was in sublime form, slid home a low Giggs' cross before Carrick's piledriver made it 6-0 on the hour mark.

 

Roma did get one goal back through de Rossi's neat finish on the turn but the game was long since up for the Italian side.

 

It was exhibition stuff for Ferguson's side by the end and they got the final word they richly deserved when Evra's low shot beat Doni.

 

Like United's first six goals it was a fine finish, and completed a magnificent victory for United, who will play either AC Milan or Bayern Munich in the last-four.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6534975.stm

Valencia 1-2 Chelsea (agg 2-3)

 

 

Michael Essien scored in the last minute to book Chelsea's place in the Champions League semi-finals and break Valencia's hearts in the Mestalla.

 

Essien's angled drive beat Santiago Canizares at his near post, a disaster for the keeper who had just made a wonder save to deny Michael Ballack.

 

Valencia took the lead when Joaquin crossed for Fernando Morientes to slide in, just after Morientes hit a post.

 

Andriy Shevchenko levelled from close range before Essien won it late on.

 

Chelsea's incredible comeback looks likely to set up an all-English last-four tie with Liverpool, presuming they finish the job against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.

 

It was a stunning climax to an absorbing contest and Chelsea deserved their reward for a second-half display full of guts and determination.

 

Valencia made the better start to the game, but having failed to snatch an early goal they looked happy to sit back and soak up Chelsea pressure.

 

The visitors had chances early on, as Ricardo Carvalho and Shevchenko both nodded wide and Ballack's powerful header was saved by Canizares.

 

Valencia were not threatening at all. But as the clock ticked around to the half-hour mark, they suddenly came to the party.

 

David Villa exploded into life and surged at the Chelsea defence, playing in Morientes, who saw his thunderous left-foot strike cannon back off the post from 20 yards.

 

Moments later, Valencia led. Joaquin crossed from the right and the Chelsea defence uncharacteristically went missing, Morientes sneaking in at the far post to half-volley home from six yards.

 

Drogba nearly levelled soon after, the Ivorian's flashing header superbly clawed away from the top corner by the 37-year-old Canizares.

 

Chelsea needed a response straight after half-time and Jose Mourinho walked down the tunnel before the first period had ended to gather his thoughts ahead of a crucial 15 minutes in their season.

 

Yet again, the Portuguese master-manager worked the oracle, as the Blues hauled themselves level just seven minutes after the restart.

 

It was scrappy, but they all count. An Essien free-kick fell to Drogba and as Roberto Ayala could only divert his shot into Shevchenko's path, the striker slammed in from two yards.

 

Suddenly it was the travelling Blues fans who were in full voice as the partizan home crowd were instantly silenced.

 

On the pitch, Chelsea sensed blood. One more goal and Valencia would need two, and Drogba forced Canizares to save low to his left from a quick counter-attack.

 

It was turning into a classic European tie, as Shevchenko crashed one wide and Miguel Angel Angulo fired over as the two heavyweights traded blows.

 

With five minutes to go, Canizares made one of the greatest saves you could ever wish to see.

 

Ballack's bullet header from Frank Lampard's free-kick was destined for the bottom corner, only for the keeper to get down to his left and somehow not only save it with his left hand, but get it up and over the crossbar.

 

But the bleach-blond custodian dramatically went from hero to villain in the dying stages as he left a crucial gap at his near post for Essien to rifle in a winner.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6534987.stm

Fans clash with police at Man Utd

 

 

Police and football fans were involved in a series of scuffles before the Champions League match between Manchester United and Roma on Tuesday.

Greater Manchester Police officers made several arrests after a confrontation in front of the Old Trafford ground.

 

The situation involved several dozen mainly Roma fans and was soon brought under control by officers with batons and police horses and dogs.

 

Further skirmishes occurred just before kick-off involving both sets of fans.

 

BBC production staff witnessed Manchester United fans throwing cans and glass bottles while police with dogs tried to separate the two sets of supporters.

 

Police dog units and mounted officers became involved with a series of scuffles with supporters close to the club shop on Sir Matt Busby Way at about 1750 BST.

 

Police sources told the BBC that the "isolated" trouble - which involved fans of both teams - was contained within five minutes.

 

A statement released by Greater Manchester Police said: "Officers patrolling at Old Trafford ahead of the Manchester United versus Roma match have been required to deal with a number of small and isolated incidents.

 

"The incidents are being dealt with as they happen and are being resolved quickly.

 

"Some arrests have been made in order to maintain the peace at the ground.

 

"At this stage there are no reports of anyone injured."

 

BBC radio reporter James Alexander said extra security was very much in evidence outside the stadium.

 

"There are lots of security personnel and extra police cars and vans around the stadium," he said.

 

"It has been classified as a Category C match which is the highest alert there is for a match at Old Trafford. It is on a par with a home match against Liverpool."

 

The visiting fans will be in the second tier of the East Stand, meaning they will be sat at the same end of the ground as United fans.

 

Roma's managing director Rosella Sensi earlier insisted their fans would behave impeccably.

 

Sensi said: "It is right to call for calm. But our fans know how to behave whether they are in Italy or abroad.

 

"It's a very important game for Roma but we are approaching it calmly."

 

The police match commander at Old Trafford is confident the match will pass off peacefully and that the Italian club's notorious fans will not travel.

 

Supt Charlie Coxon, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "History shows the ultras don't travel abroad.

 

"We have Italian police officers with us. If any of the known ultras do appear, they will see them.

 

"We have a full police operation at Manchester Airport to make sure everything is very safe. But we don't expect any of them to come."

 

The Independent Manchester United Supporters Association said trouble was not expected in the return match.

 

"We all need to make sure that there are no headlines in Manchester to wipe out the memory of those made by the Italian police last week in Rome," said IMUSA in a statement.

 

"The Roma fans at Old Trafford on Tuesday will be just like most of our fans who went to Rome last week and will be there only to watch the football."

 

Uefa is to investigate the trouble from the first leg, which could lead to disciplinary action for both United and Roma.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6538695.stm

http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,30000-oldtrafford_100407_1800,00.html

WOW i watched the Manchester game....geez that was intense, and how bout that, 3 English teams in the Semi finals. WOW what a day!

3 english teams in semifinal! As Roma mamma mia,good job Essien

That was one of the best performances I've ever seen in a Champions League match! (the Man Utd one). My concern now would be that teams that play that well now don't make it last all the way to the final. I'm gonna bet on AC Milan scraping their way to winning this years tournament! lol

I nearly got a heart attack after watching this one... :lol: :D That would have been very embarrassing!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dwNi43ckjU

 

omg:shocked2: don't worry Bremen will go through...and Bayern,too!!!

That was one of the best performances I've ever seen in a Champions League match! (the Man Utd one). My concern now would be that teams that play that well now don't make it last all the way to the final.

I thought about that too.. I mean can United really play better than they did last night? they were really amazing.

De Rossi's goal was a beauty but it's overshadowed by SEVEN United goals :laugh3:

I'm gonna bet on AC Milan scraping their way to winning this years tournament! lol

that would be awesome :P

WOW i watched the Manchester game....geez that was intense, and how bout that, 3 English teams in the Semi finals. WOW what a day!

 

 

Aww I missed that match! :cry:

 

That is awesome that they kicked Roma ass. Awesome. I'm watching the Bayern Munchen -- AC Milan match now. :)

Bayern going bye bye.

Liverpool-Chelsea

Milan- Man U

 

Thats the semi-final line-up.