United on to the FA semis

Manchester United and Arsenal were both looking to end a couple of bad streaks.  United had lost 3 of their last 4 league games, including consecutive losses to Chelsea and Liverpool.  Arsenal lost in the League Cup final a couple of weeks ago, and had just been knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona; despite carrying a 2-1 advantage into the Nou Camp.

So it was quite clear that both these teams needed this win desperately.  United needed to halt their losing skid, while Arsenal were still in search of some silverware after a defensive hiccup late in the game gifted Birmingham the Carling Cup.  When all was said and done, it was Manchester United moving on, a 2-0 win keeping their treble hopes alive.


Fabio sliding in for the game's opening score.



I wanted to say that I was surprised when Sir Alex Ferguson named 7 defenders in his starting lineup; but after having seen his lineup selection over the years, you kind of get used to it.  It proved to be wise as the game wore on, when Arsenal launched an assault on the United goal late in the game; Edwin van der Sar was my man of the match.



Neither team fielded a particularly strong squad though; both teams missing players through injuries.  Arsenal probably came out on the worse end, as they'll have to do without Johan Djourou, who dislocated his shoulder and will be out for the rest of the season.  They are already short on goalkeepers after Wojciech Szczensy, the preferred starter, picked up an injury midweek against Barcelona.

On a positive note, it was nice to see both Aaron Ramsey and Luis Antonio Valencia back in action.  I remember Ramsey suffering a horrific injury last season, and can also remember Valencia breaking his ankle against Rangers in their Champions League opener.  You obviously fear for the worst, but glad that both players are back for their teams.

Arsenal, who still have a game in hand, currently trail United by 4 points in the league standings.  It will be interesting to see how they move on despite their injuries and whatnot.  United can relate, as they were hit by the injury bug that played a part in their missing out on a fourth straight league title last season.  If the Gunners can seek consolation in one thing, they only have one set of fixtures to worry about from here on out.

United still have to visit Ashburton Grove a.k.a Emirates Stadium, and we all know about their struggles in road games.  Hopefully, they'll have fixed some of their problems before their next game against Arsenal in May.

Muito Obrigado, Ronaldo!! (Thank you very much)

It's been more than a week since Ronaldo announced his retirement from professional football, but I'm just getting around to writing about it.

There's a lot you can say about Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima; there are many words to describe him, his mind blowing talent, but none captures him best as his nickname, o fenômeno (translated in Portuguese as The Phenomenon).  That sums it all up.

From the time he hit the scene back in 1994, up until his retirement, never has the world seen a player like him;  a combination of size, speed and accuracy so deadly deadly, it would make a spitting cobra blush. 
 

Ronaldo came full circle; from a rather forgettable game in
1998, to winning the World Cup 4 years later.

 
Ronaldo played at the highest level and won it all; well at least every trophy that was available to him.  The only missing items in his trophy case were a Copa Libertadores, UEFA Champions League winner's medal (he never played in a final) and an Olympic Gold Medal (which he might have won had it not been for a Kanu-inspired Nigeria in Atlanta '96).  In all fairness, you really can't win them all.

The closest he came to a Champions League final was in 2003 when Madrid (who were the defending champions) made the semis, but lost to Juventus despite taking a 2-1 lead into the second leg in Turin.  Madrid were eliminated in the quarter-final stage the following season, and have yet to advance past the second round since then.

One legend to another

In 2007, he joined AC Milan who went on to win the title; but Ronaldo was cup-tied, having played for Madrid before his transfer, therefore rendering him ineligible for the remainder of the competition.  A left knee injury suffered in 2008 would cut his time short with Milan, subsequently ending his time in Europe as well.

What makes Ronaldo even more remarkable, is that despite missing roughly 2 years (and a few months, give or take) due to his knee injuries and months of rehabilitation, he had not lost his killer instinct when he was back and fully recovered.  Such was his ability, that Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari included him in the national team for the 2002 World Cup.  Ronaldo justified his selection by scoring 8 goals (7, if you really want to be petty), helping Brazil with their 5^th World Cup.  He clearly was the difference, for without him, Brazil might have still done well, but not enough to win the World Cup.

My favourite Ronaldo memory is the return leg of the 2003 Champions League quarterfinal match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.  In a venue dubbed the Theatre of Dreams, Ronaldo played the only way Ronaldo could.  After a dazzling performance that included scoring a hat-trick, Manchester United fans gave him gave him a standing ovation when he was substituted for Santiago Solari.  I don't ever remember a visiting player getting a standing ovation from the crowd.  Everyone was in awe of what they had just seen.

We might never see another player like him in our lifetime; he is simply "poetry in motion".  In a world full of contenders and pretenders, there can only be one RONALDO.