^Man United celebrating after a Historic win^
1st Half
Man United came into this match expecting a very tough match and they certainly got that. It was still a very exciting match. Both teams were very attacking and played end to end stuff.
Sporting Lisbon got off to the best possible start scoring a goal in the 3rd minute. Man United cleared the ball from the corner but the ball went straight back into the box while the Man United players were running out and Postiga was left on his own in the box and he lifted the ball over Van Der Sar from 6 yards.
Man United nearly equalised a minute later after a scramble for the ball in the box but each shot was blocked by a Sporting player. Man United continued to press Sporting but they kept throwing their bodies in front of the ball. The best chance during that period fell to Berbatov. The ball was crossed to him at the back post and he bicycled it but it was deflected, Patricio showed some great reflexes to stop the ball going into the top corner.
Man United did equalise in the 37th minute when Ronaldo got onto the end of a chipped through ball and scored with a magnificent over head kick into the bottom corner leaving Patricio with no chance. Ronaldo didn’t hold back in his celebrations even though he said that Sporting was his second home. Both teams went into the break all level after a very exciting first half.
2nd Half
The 2nd half was also a very exciting half and was probably more exciting than the first half. Berbatov nearly gave Man United the lead about 10 minutes into the half when his header came back off the bar but it still nearly went in because it hit the back of Patricio’s hand but it went out for a corner. Man United were down to 10 men in the 66th minute when Neville missed timed his tackle when he was the last man and saw a straight red.
Man United did take the lead in the 68th minute when Rooney got on the end of a long clearance from Evra and took the ball into the box and smashed it past a helpless Patricio. Sporting Lisbon somehow managed to equalise 2 minutes later when the ball was crossed into the box but Vidic missed his header and Liedson was waiting behind him to volley it into the top corner of the net.
Rooney managed to give United the lead again in the 76th minute when Berbatov blocked a pass from Tonel, the ball fell to Rooney who took it past Anderson Polga and slotted it into the net off the post. Man United then brought off Carrick and Giggs for Veloso and Nani to freshen up things in midfield and give Veloso his first match against Sporting since his move to United.
Berbatov wrapped up the game for United in the 81st minute when Ronaldo played the ball to Berbatov and he smashed it into the top corner with his first touch. O’Shea then came on for Evra to sure up things in the defence. There was 2 minutes injury time in the second half but Man United held on to win their 4th minute European Cup and maintain their 100% record in European Cup finals.
M.O.T.M: W. Rooney - 9
He managed to put Man United in the lead twice during the match and set up the equaliser.
^Man Utd players celebrate on the pitch after the match^
After the match the Man Utd manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was interviewed and had this to say.
"I'm absolutely trilled with this win I thought that it was going to be a very hard match when they scored in the 3rd minute but the players showed some very good character to comeback and win. I thought that Gary's sending off was abit harsh but we fought on and won the match. I think that we can be the first team ever to retain the Champions League because I think this is the best side in the world and the best side I have ever managed. I know I said that 3 years ago when we won it last but since then I have brought in some quailty players like Veloso and Berbatov and the young players have matured since that final now we need to concentrate on coming back next year."