TheSoccerPitch.com

The goal was enough to see Manchester United through to the next stage of the competition. Here is the goal

I had a feeling that the game between Chelsea and Liverpool will be a close one but i certainly didn’t expect it to end 4 – 4. It is a bit hard to see Chelsea and Liverpool concede 4 goals in a single match. Although most of the goals were because of errors, it did provide very much entertainment. Liverpool were without Steven Gerrard but they almost took the game to Chelsea when they scored those two quick first half goals and took a lead of 2 – 0 at half time.

It took an angry Hiddink to motivate Chelsea at half time and they responded after that by scoring the first goal thanks to a mistake by Pepe Reina and then Alex scored a thunderous free kick that could have been the best goal of the match to level the game 2 – 2. It looked the game might finish that way but there was some excitement left for the end too. Chelsea took the lead after a Frank Lampard strike but Liverpool responded quickly through a deflected Lucas goal and a headed goal by Dirk Kuyt. Liverpool were leading 4 – 3 with seven minutes remaining and needed one more goal to win the tie but Chelsea killed off the game after a Lampard strike. read more »

If you missed this amazing match, do check out the highlights

Who said lightning does not strike twice. It certainly was the case as Kiko Macheda once again scored the winner against Sunderland that sent Manchester United back to the top of Premier League. It was again a poor display from United as they battled against a spirited Sunderland side fighting to avoid relegation. United took the lead in the first half lead through a Paul Scholes header. It looked things will be comfortable for United from then on but Sunderland showed a tremendous fight back and scored in the second half when Kenwyne Jones scored from close range. But then Macheda was introduced in the 75th minute and he scored the goal from his first touch sending in a Carrick shot.

With Liverpool comfortable beating Blackburn 4 – 0 in an early kick off, the pressure was on United. Keeping in mind the Champions League game at Porto next week, Sir Alex rested Evra, Van Der Sar and Ronaldo for the game with Berbatov partnering Tevez up front and Rooney playing on the left. There was no Rio Ferdinand but Evans passed a late fitness test to partner Vidic up front. United dominated the opening periods of the game and there first real chance came in the 15th minute when a Vidic header was cleared off the line. But United were soon took tool the lead when a teasing cross from Rooney on the left allowed Scholes to head over Gordon for the opening goal. But as it has been the case with United in recent weeks, the failed to capitalise on the opening goal and it was Sunderland who started causing United all cause of problems. read more »

A poor performance from United and some good football by FC Porto ensured that Porto left Old Trafford with a smile on there face and two away goals. Many had predicted that it would be an easy match for United but Porto were a far better team. After Macheda’s late winner against Aston Villa, i thought United will play like a rejuvenated team but that was simple not the case.

United had Rooney, Vidic, Scholes back in the side with Rio Ferdinand missing. Things got off to a bad start for Manchester United as they conceded a goal in the 4th minutes and it was a poor play and defending that let to the goal. Cristiano Ronaldo lost the ball and some poor defending from Evans allowed Rodriguez to cut in a curl in the opening goal. Ronaldo soon had a header saved by Helton in one of United’s rare attacks but they soon equalized thanks to a big mistake from Porto. Bruno Alves tried a back pass to Helton but Rooney has already anticipated what he was going to do and intercepted the pass and coolly slotted in the equalizer. read more »

I realized yesterday why Old Trafford is called “Theatre Of Dreams”. A place where dreams come true as in the case of 17 year old Federico Macheda who scored a superb goal to give Manchester United the victory. 24 hours earlier, no one would have known who he was, but right now, probably all the football lovers everywhere know about him and he has also become the new hero of Italian press.

Everyone else including me might have been surprised to see him come on as a substitute. I was expecting Sir Alex to bring on someone experienced like Park Ji Sung or Danny Welbeck who has played a few cup games. But it was a gamble that paid off as the young Italian announced his arrival in English football in a brilliant fashion. So important was his goal that many are comparing it to the goal which Steve Bruce scored against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993 which gave Man Utd the victory as they went on the win the English Premier League. But most important is the fact that the goal gave Manchester United the belief that they can win the Premier League. read more »