Madrid! Cabron! Saluda al Campeon!
F**k, F**k off. Out of sheer relief and probaly due to a couple of cans of beer that I had guzzled, I screamed at my flatmate -- a Gunner-supporter -- as soon as Eto'o scored the late equaliser in the 76th minute against the Londoners in the Barca-Arsenal Champions league showdown yesterday.
After a pulsating ninety minutes, full of thrills, sheer artistry, near-misses and some hits, favorite Barca managed to down a spirited 10-men Arsenal and lift the coveted champions trophy for the second time in their history.
Like every arm-chair critic and expert, I was expecting the Spanish champs, who have arguably been playing the best football in the world, to simply cruise through victory. But, at their captain
Thierry Henry's home ground Stade de France, Arsenal took a surprising lead with a wonderfully executed header from Sol Campbell -- it was the England defender's first goal in 39 European appearences and it could not have come on a more opportune time. And it was after they were reduced to 10-men when their goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was shown the red card.
Thereafter the wave-like attacks from Barca were foiled by some rock solid defending by the Londoners and it seemed that Nou Camp's wait for second European triumph would get prolonged.
However, Frank Rijkaard, who was looking clueless and stupid until now made changes and fielded in Iniesta, Balletti and most importantly Henrik Larsson and suddenly there was an urgency in the middle.
In the 76th minute, Larsson set up a perfect ball for Samuel Eto'o with a deft touch in the box. Eto'o, who according to some was offside but not in my opinion, made no mistake in putting the ball
in the net.
Within a space of five minutes, the sensational Swede set up another, this time the winner, and Balletti hit the final nail in Arsenal's coffin and secured himself a place in the history.
In the retrospection, the game very exciting though not as exciting as last years final between Milan and Liverpool. And Barca looked a shade jaded and under awe, not of their opponents but of
the sheer grandess of the moment which have been so few in their illustrous history unlike their arch rivals Real Madrid, who always flaunt their nine European trophies.
And it was precisely this envy that made Eto'o scream when they win the Spanish League last year: Madrid! Cabron! Saluda al Campeon! (Madrid! Bast**ds! Salute the Champions!).
And although the African striker seemed more modest this time but we know what his heart must be screaming. Don't we?
PS: Even Madrid burst into celebrations at the news of their arch rivals lifting the Champions Trophy. It had been a great week for Spain in general. First Seville won UEFA Cup, then Alonso triumphed at Spanish GP. It was followed by Rafael Nadal beating Fed(erer) Ex in Rome and yesterday Barca capped what was a wonedful week for Spain. Is it the indication that the Armada won't sunk and will sail to the World Cup title this time. Only God knows.
F**k, F**k off. Out of sheer relief and probaly due to a couple of cans of beer that I had guzzled, I screamed at my flatmate -- a Gunner-supporter -- as soon as Eto'o scored the late equaliser in the 76th minute against the Londoners in the Barca-Arsenal Champions league showdown yesterday.
After a pulsating ninety minutes, full of thrills, sheer artistry, near-misses and some hits, favorite Barca managed to down a spirited 10-men Arsenal and lift the coveted champions trophy for the second time in their history.
Like every arm-chair critic and expert, I was expecting the Spanish champs, who have arguably been playing the best football in the world, to simply cruise through victory. But, at their captain
Thierry Henry's home ground Stade de France, Arsenal took a surprising lead with a wonderfully executed header from Sol Campbell -- it was the England defender's first goal in 39 European appearences and it could not have come on a more opportune time. And it was after they were reduced to 10-men when their goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was shown the red card.
Thereafter the wave-like attacks from Barca were foiled by some rock solid defending by the Londoners and it seemed that Nou Camp's wait for second European triumph would get prolonged.
However, Frank Rijkaard, who was looking clueless and stupid until now made changes and fielded in Iniesta, Balletti and most importantly Henrik Larsson and suddenly there was an urgency in the middle.
In the 76th minute, Larsson set up a perfect ball for Samuel Eto'o with a deft touch in the box. Eto'o, who according to some was offside but not in my opinion, made no mistake in putting the ball
in the net.
Within a space of five minutes, the sensational Swede set up another, this time the winner, and Balletti hit the final nail in Arsenal's coffin and secured himself a place in the history.
In the retrospection, the game very exciting though not as exciting as last years final between Milan and Liverpool. And Barca looked a shade jaded and under awe, not of their opponents but of
the sheer grandess of the moment which have been so few in their illustrous history unlike their arch rivals Real Madrid, who always flaunt their nine European trophies.
And it was precisely this envy that made Eto'o scream when they win the Spanish League last year: Madrid! Cabron! Saluda al Campeon! (Madrid! Bast**ds! Salute the Champions!).
And although the African striker seemed more modest this time but we know what his heart must be screaming. Don't we?
PS: Even Madrid burst into celebrations at the news of their arch rivals lifting the Champions Trophy. It had been a great week for Spain in general. First Seville won UEFA Cup, then Alonso triumphed at Spanish GP. It was followed by Rafael Nadal beating Fed(erer) Ex in Rome and yesterday Barca capped what was a wonedful week for Spain. Is it the indication that the Armada won't sunk and will sail to the World Cup title this time. Only God knows.
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....one of the all time favs....