Three-time winners

Terry had the final penalty of the shoot-out and had he scored would have secured European glory for Chelsea. However, the Blues skipper slipped, hit the woodwork and United went onto snatch the contest in sudden death and conquer the continent for a third time.

It truly was a remarkable night in Moscow. The game had it all - tension, drama and excitement. Momentum swung back and forth like a pendulum with United dominating the opening period; and Chelsea controlling things after half-time.

Penalty kicks, and sudden-death at that, was all that could separate the two sides and Edwin van der Sar made himself the hero as he blocked Nicholas Anelka penalty-kick to spark wild celebrations from the Red Army all over the Russian capital.

Sir Alex Ferguson opted for a three-man English midfield for the game with Paul Scholes lining up alongside Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves. That allowed United to experiment with a three-pronged attack with 40-goal winger Ronaldo joining Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez up front. Meanwhile, Nemanja Vidic passed a late fitness test as United's familiar back four protected Van Der Sar's net.

United went onto boss the opening period. The Reds controlled possession, looked far more dangerous and were not afraid to take the game to Avram Grant's side. The game was a passionate, largely bad-tempered affair and an aerial collision between Scholes and Claude Makelele - leaving the United veteran with blood gushing from his nose - saw both players booked.

Despite early dominance, United's first clear-cut chance came on 26 minutes when Ronaldo headed home a deserved opener. The free-scoring winger nodded home a beautiful cross from Wes Brown to break the deadlock and send the travelling hoards of Reds into ecstasy.

Peter Cech was forced into a sublime double-save to deny United a second goal just moments later as he blocked Tevez's header before clawing away the rebound from Carrick. At the other end, VDS did well to spare Rio Ferdinand an own-goal as the towering defender nodded a Frank Lampard cross the wrong-way.

Tevez missed another golden chance before half-time - and suddenly, against the run of play, Chelsea found themselves level. A long-range effort from Michael Essien deflected off Ferdinand and fell kindly to the unmarked Lampard who rifled his effort with relative ease. The goal totally turned the game on its head and the Blues, battered for long periods in the opening half, went in at the break looking more content.

The second-half was a totally different spectacle. Lampard's strike had leased new life into Chelsea Chelsea controlled the half and came within inches of firing home the win as Drogba's curling effort crashed against the woodwork with 77 minutes on the Luzhniki Ground's clock.

United introduced Ryan Giggs with three minutes of normal time left. The Welshman's introduction ensured he broke Sir Bobby Charlton's long-standing appearance record.

Charlton was watching on from the stands - but Giggs did not look over-awed as he a speculative effort, United's best of extra-time, headed off the line by Terry.

Chelsea's best chance of extra-time came on 95 minutes as Lampard smashed a lay-off from Michael Ballack against the crossbar from only yards out. Runners-up in the League Cup and Premier League, the West Londoners were determined to snatch the tie in extra-time and enjoyed more possession before Drogba was dismissed on 116 minutes. The Ivory Coast strike slapped Vidic in a fierce melee and was given his marching orders by referee Lubos Michel.

So, then came the penalty-kicks.

Tevez opened the scoring for United, Ballack responded with Carrick and Juliano Belletti making it two-two. Then came Ronaldo's woeful kick - the winger, who missed from twelve yards at the Nou Camp in the semi-finals, stuttered on his run-up and fired a tame effort straight at Peter Cech. Advantage Chelsea.

Lampard put the Blues ahead, then Hargreaves and Ashley Cole made it 4-3. Nani had to score to keep United in the competition - and his effort clipped the gloves of Cech before crossing the line.

The spotlight fell to Chelsea skipper Terry who only had to score to secure the Champions League trophy a place at Stamford Bridge. He stepped up, slipped, sent Van Der Sar the wrong way and dinked his effort against the woodwork. Rarely have I enjoyed such a moment of surprise, jubilance and relief - the final was still alive.

Anderson and Kalou both scored before Giggs made it 6-5 to United. Nicholas Anelka stepped up and slammed his effort straight at VDS and United celebrated a famous win. Fitting as well that Giggs, on such an emotional and significant occasion, was to net the winning penalty.

The celebrations were manic on full-time. The class between United and Chelsea was all too evident. The Blues were led by money-grabbing ex-Red CEO Peter Kenyon when collecting their losers' medals. United climbed the steps led by Bobby Charlton - and the legend refused to have his medal put round his neck. A true gentleman.

Well done United. This was one of the best ever!

Full Time - Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (AET)
Attendance - 69,552
United won 6-5 on penalty kicks.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Brown (Anderson 120), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Scholes (Giggs 87), Carrick, Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney (Nani 101).
Substitutes Not Used: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre.

Chelski FC: Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele (Belletti 120), Lampard, Joe Cole (Anelka 99), Drogba, Malouda (Kalou 92).
Substitutes Not Used: Cudicini, Shevchenko, Obi, Alex.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS