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And I Thought I Know Football Rules …
How wrong could I be. How do you fare? Take the quiz here.
I guess this explain why I did not take my PhD in football per se what my wife said 
. Better go back to writing in what (I think) I do best then …
The day the title is won
What a day 
Surely the day where the premiership title is decided (although it doesn’t seem like that at the beginning ).
Two games involving Manchester United and Chelsea were both started early this Saturday. United are traveling to Everton, while Chelsea host Bolton. Naturally, I was streaming both games, putting the United’s game in the bigger screen, while the Chelsea’s game is put on the smaller screen aside.
11′ : Alan Stubbs scored for Everton. A free kick that elude Van der Sar’s hand due to a deflection by Carrick.
— Certainly, not the best way to start the day. Credit to Everton though, they take most of the early initiatives, Yobo already headed against the bar at the 2nd minute.
19′ : Bolton lead Chelsea. Whoa.. good, if United lose today, it may not be that bad
22′ : Not surprisingly, Chelsea drew level. Kalou finished well on the cross from the left side (the window is too small to give me a chance to identify who make the cross). Meanwhile, even though they have the most possesion, United is having difficulty to break down the disciplined Everton backside.
34′ : I didn’t see it 
, I just realized that the scoreline is 2-1 a few minutes later (actually when I see it, I was half hoping that the number ‘2′ is put after Bolton name ). From a corner, Kalou was able to get the header that although was cleared on the line by Bolton’s defender, it bounced back to Jaaskelainen before going into the net.
— This really starting to be a not so good day after all. As far as I remember, United are still unable to carve out clear chances.
Half time: Man United 0 - Everton 1; Chelsea 2 - Bolton 1
— Still hoping that somehow United will be able to score, while frustratingly it looks like the Everton defenders are having their day.
50′ : Fernandes scored for Everton 
. Fernandes scored a beautiful goal with an unstoppable shot from just outside the penalty area. Although later on this turned out to be the only Everton’s notable attacking move for the second half.
— This officially is a bad day 
. Turning around from 2 goals behind, on away games, never going to be easy. Starting to think that even if United can get anything from the game, it would have been good enough (and also start praying that Bolton manage to do something ).
54′ : Kevin Davies scored. From a free kick, the Chelsea defenders were caught napping, Davies scored from a free header past the on rushing Cech.
— Hohoho.. may be Bolton can really do something here. Although deep in the heart, still admitting that Chelsea would be able to win their game.
61′ : O’shea scored for United. A lifeline for United, from a pure gift from the Everton’s keeper, who lost his concentration, with absolutely no one near him dropping the ball from a corner kick. Ronaldo was immediately put on to bolster the attack.
— Good.. good…, although still a little bit pessimistic of how United would be able to score another. The Everton’s defence look pretty solid throughout the game.
68′ : Own goal by Philip Neville. Hihihihi. An own goal by a former United player (Chelsea should immediately investigate Phil’s bank account to check if he got anything from United prior to the game or also after ). To be fair, the defence was in chaos after Ronaldo managed to head the ball from a corner, then after it was thwarted, he followed by a kick that was goal bound. Neville, in hurry, miskick his clearance to his own net.
— Starting to jump around, getting excited. If the scorelines stay this way, it is still going to be a good day. Although starting to be optimistic if there will be a winner for this match, it must be United.
79‘ : Rooney scoredddddddddddd! A poor clearance from Everton’s defence gave the ball away to United in dangerous position. O’shea crossed from the right, (I think it was) Yobo can not clear it, and the ball fell to Rooney. He still have a lot to do by getting one defender and then finished very coolly to give United a very precious lead.
— Meanwhile the game at Stamford Bridge is still quite even. While Chelsea looks like to get the most possesion, Bolton was still able to sporadically play the ball well far into’s the attacking area. Started to sing “This is a good day .. this is a good day .. ” .
90′+3 : Chris Eagle scored to make it 4-2 to United. The substitute player (that I have never seen before ) finish with composure past the Everton’s keeper. A joy to watch United player celebrate the goals 
Full time: Everton 2 - United 4; Chelsea 2 - Bolton 2
Celebration time
With 3 games to go, United lead the table by 5 points.
Chelsea’s next games are away to Arsenal (another tough one), home to Man United (hohohoho), and then home to Everton.
United’s game are the away derby (hope the title could be clinched next week, should Chelsea fail to get anything from their away game), away to Chelsea (hohohoho * copy&paste from above ), then home to West Ham (should they were already condemned to the second division, and United is not yet confirmed champion, hope that this may not be that hard)
Looking at the dejection face of Chelsea’s player after the final whistle (most notably John Terry’s), and the subdued Stamford Bridge’s crowd, even the most defiance of Mourinho must also admit that the title race is over today.
Manchester United to become the premiership champion, for the first time in 3 years.
— hmm.. and now wondering, if only I can write my thesis as fast as I write this entry … —
Man United 7 - Roma 1
United: Carrick 11′, Smith 17′, Rooney 19′, Ronaldo 44′, Ronaldo 49′, Carrick 60′, Evra 80′
Roma: De Rossi 69′
Man United are through to the semifinal with 8-3 win on aggregate.
A marvellous performance by United. Scoring seven goals in any game would never been ordinary. To do it in Europe, in an ECL quarter final match would require something more than extraordinary.
Fresh from the set-back suffered in the domestic league last Saturday, which raises doubts that their season may start to crumble (me included ). Added with the crisis caused by the injuries and suspension coming in the most critical part of the season (3 of the first-choice back four are out, Scholes is suspended from the red card in the first leg, Saha also injured), this kind of performance could not come at a better time.
Roma for sure suffered more from the suspension of their midfield dynamo Perrotta (and what happened to Taddei?), and who would fancy that it is Fletcher who came up with Perotta-like performance all night?
Simply unbelievable. Surely talk about emulating the treble year of 1999 can not be dismissed now.
Additional note:
It is always not good to watch your favorite teams faced each other. Last week when Roma was leading, I was hoping that United would score. This time when United lead by 3 goals, I was expecting Roma to be able to overturn their deficit .
On the other match tonight, Chelsea are also progressing to the semifinal, coming from behind to beat Valencia, away at Mestalla. Boy, I have to say they are made of steel for sure (and making it sweeter because United are about to top them ).
