The happiest days of my life

As a mark of respect for the sport I love the most, I begin by sharing my experiences with the wonderful game of football. 

May 2008 was a crazy month in many ways. Right from the moment, the final whistle was blown at Old Trafford, in the semi finals of the champions league, the anxiety started to creep up. The stage was set for an all-English final. Manchester United versus Chelsea. The sad part was, I had to wait for 20 odd days to watch the final. But the saddest part was, I had to endure the torture of writing the semester exams. No prizes for guessing where my thoughts lay. Somehow, with great difficulty, I was done with my semester exams on May 13th. My parents left for Delhi on 15th, the trip that I sacrificed to watch my favorite club play my favorite game for 90 minutes, if not more. People called me crazy, well I didn't give a hoot. The tension was building up by the passage of each day. 

Finally, the day arrived. May 21, 2008. I went to my neighbour's(Prakash) place, who is also a die-hard ManUnited fanatic, to watch the game in LCD screen. We muted the television during the pre-match TenSports crap(the analysis show that is). The match began.Luzhniki stadium was full. The game was going on well, with United dominating possession. The moment came when Scholes and Brown played a 1-2 and Brown crossed the ball into the box, Ronaldo jumped, and headed the ball into the back of the net, 1-0 to United. We jumped in Joy, screaming on the top of our voices(it was midnight), banging all the furniture around us, acting like mad-men. In the next few minutes, we should have easily been 2 or 3 nil up, if not for the brilliant saves by the Chelsea Goali Cech. Any Chelsea goal is incomplete without their trademark deflections by the deflection specialist 'Fat' Frank Lampard. The ball was deflected off some 23 odd players, and fell in front of Lampard, who put it in the back of the net, 1-1. Thanks to the untimely slip by our goalie Van Der Sar. The half time whislte blew.

The second half started. Chelsea dominated the game in the second half which was very unlike Chelsea. It was goalless in the 2nd half. Extra time also ended goalless. Here, I thank the first hero for United  DIDIER DROGBA, who got himself sent off for being Drogbaish. No wonder. So, it was down to penalities. We both were bloody nervous. No one would want to lose the match in penalities. The shoot-out was about to begin and DAMN, POWER CUT. We both shouted "Oh f**k!!! " in Unison. I texted my friends, to update me on the shoot-outs. After  5 mins, I got a message from a scouser friend of mine which read "hahahaha....Ronaldo misses the penalty...hahahahhaa". 

We were shocked. Ronaldo of all people missing the penalty. Meanwhile the power was back. Chelsea skipper John Terry stepped up to take the kick that would have won them their first Champions league title. I couldn't watch it anymore.I closed my eyes.  I saw flashes of John Terry lifting the cup and running around the ground. I felt like crying. This was the cup that we fans desperately wanted to win. John Terry stepped up and when he was about to kick it, he slipped, and the ball hit the bar and went wide. Here, I thank the second hero for United JOHN TERRY. The hopes were restored again. It went to sudden death. The Punk "Anderson" stepped up and bang, into the net. Next, the Chelsea player(forgot the name) put the ball in the net to even things up. Stepped up Ryan Giggs, put it in the back of the net, as cool as a cucumber. Stepped up Nicolas Anelka.  Banged it straight into the goal keeper's hands and the stadium errupted.Here, I thank the third hero for United NICOLAS ANELKA.  Punched my fists in air. Manchester United, became the champions of Europe once again . Ronaldo was one relieved man. A fitting tribute to the Busby babes who had lost their lives in the Munich Tragedy exactly 50 years ago. Lest we forget. Thanks for cheering us on from the heavens. 

When the trophy was lifted, tears rolled out of my eyes. It was one great feeling. Never felt so happy in my life. It was a dream come true for me, as a fan. Will be in love with this club for ever. 

And the Reds go marching on on on...