April 24, 2012

That was one of the greatest soccer matches I've ever seen. Terry's stupid stunt (followed by that Oscar-quality dive) should have buried Chelsea, but they came back despite getting possession one out of every four minutes.

The way they closed down Barcelona during the final 20-minute barrage was unbelievable.

posted by rcade at 08:37 PM on April 24, 2012

scully -- who is going to overtake Arsenal for third? Seems more likely for Newcastle or Spurs to get the shaft.

Also, while it seemed like a loss, Barca did not lose the game, so the last 3 is L-L-D and not 3 consecutive losses.

posted by holden at 10:58 PM on April 24, 2012

Outstanding intensity and drama. The Lampard pass and Ramires chip combined for as beautiful a goal as you could hope to see to take a side through to a final.

scully - I love the Gunners but if they can't secure 3rd place at this point, maybe they don't deserve Champions League football next year (though I would hate to see RVP leave too - of course maybe he will anyway).

posted by sbacharach at 11:41 PM on April 24, 2012

Terry's so hot and cold these days, it might not be terrible news that he's missing. If David Luiz and Cahill are fit, that sounds a decent pair of centre backs to me (as long as someone has a stern discussion with Sideshow Bob before the match about his attacking inclinations and how to curb them a bit).

Mereiles was superb in both legs against the Catalan midgets, but I'm not convinced he'd have been the right man for the job against the more physical challenge that will be presented in the final by either Bayern or Madrid. Essien has looked a bit of a spent force since his last injury, but he's also had some good games, notably when playing in the same side as Luiz, when he's shown a real aptitude for tracking back to cover the holes he leaves when he galavants off in search of goals.

Ramires will really be missed. He looks like the real deal, like Sturidge, except he plays with his head up, has an exquisite passing game, and is willing to cover back all day long... so not really at all like Sturidge. Perhaps the way to go would be to play Torres in a Ramires role. The Spaniard has also shown surprising willingness to put the work in defensively all season. Even as a Liverpool fan who should be gleeful about his lack of goals since we sold him, I haven't been and was delighted to see him wrap it up so calmly last night when the opportunity presented itself.

Ivanovic is an absolute liability. I was at the first leg at Stamford Bridge and where we were sitting was more or less right up the defensive line for three big offside shouts against Barca in the first half - all three looked yards offside, until I looked all the way across the pitch to Ivanovic wandering about playing everyone on. He also went on a couple of forward runs and then was unable (or unwilling) to get back into position quickly enough once he lost the ball. He was better last night, and I really felt for him after the game when he clearly didn't realise he was going to miss the final until the interviewer told him so, but even so, it's not necessarily a catastrophe that he's out. Mind you, Bosingwa's not much better on the liability front.

The one good thing for Chelsea about all of those guys being out of the final is that they won't be distracted by it or saving themselves for it in either the FA Cup Final or the race for fourth spot in the league.

posted by JJ at 07:59 AM on April 25, 2012

The outlook was somewhat dodgy for the Barca eleven that day:
The score stood two to one, with but forty more to play.
But when Drogba went to ground and wily Fabregas did the same,
A roar rose up in the stands from the patrons of the game.

All but a straggling few went to their feet. But even they, with the rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, if only Messi could but take the penalty shot,
We'd put up even money, now, with Messi at the spot.

And Xavi spoke to Messi, as did also Andres I.,
And the former was an assassin and the latter, my oh my;
So upon that joyous multitude no melancholy sat,
For there seemed but little chance of Messi ever missing that.

And Cech went back to his line, to the joyous screams of all,
And the Turkish ref, the much despised, bent down to place the ball;
And when the crowd had quieted, and the men saw what had occurred,
There was a perfect opportunity for Barca to score its third.

Then from 90,000 throats and more there rose a happy screech,
It rumbled down Las Ramblas, it rattled on the beach;
It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon Park Guell,
For Messi mighty Messi, had come to answer the bell.

There was ease in Messi's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was calm in Messi's bearing and a smile on Messi's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he shyly looked at the ground,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt that vital goal was found.

Ninety thousand eyes were on him as he knocked his boots into the dirt;
Ninety thousand tongues applauded when he tugged upon his shirt.
Then while the menacing Cech glared lustily at the ball,
Defiance gleamed in Messi's eye, as he contemplated Chelsea's fall.

And while the leather-covered sphere sat unmoving on the ground,
And Messi stood a-watching it like some long-lost item found,
The commentators commentated that it was all over now,
This was too much for just ten men, there just was no way how.

From the benches, black with people, there went up another roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
"Bury it, our Messi!" shouted someone on the stand;
And its likely they'd have kept it up had not Messi raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Messi's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He looked to the ref, whose whistle signaled "When you will";
And as Messi stepped up to the ball, it seemed that time stood still.

The hearts of multitudes of Catalans rose up into their throats;
From children watching it at home to the fishermen upon their boats.
They saw Messi's face grow serious, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Messi wouldn't let this chance go by in vain.

No sneer is found on Messi's lip, his brow furrowed in thought;
He moves himself with grace as wheels up to the spot.
And as Leo approaches the ball, his boots, they seem to glow,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Messi's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, in places near and far;
But there is no joy in Barca - mighty Messi hit the bar.

posted by holden at 10:06 AM on April 25, 2012

Fabulous piece of work.

We should open a series of SpoFi theme taverns in various locations. I would name one of them Holden's Verse. And perhaps another one would be Grum's Numbers.

Rcade's microbrewery would be called Vat City. Rosary waistband, red monkey hat and matching slippers mandatory.

posted by beaverboard at 11:53 AM on April 25, 2012

We should open a series of SpoFi theme taverns in various locations.

We need one called The Dead Horse.

posted by tron7 at 12:18 PM on April 25, 2012

We should open a series of SpoFi theme taverns in various locations

I'll run the 'Train Wreak'.

posted by Folkways at 03:37 PM on April 25, 2012

holden's poem added to The Sidelines. Well done, mate.

posted by scully at 08:24 PM on April 25, 2012

We should open a series of SpoFi theme taverns in various locations

I will happily open the Clam Shot here in South Bend...

posted by The_Black_Hand at 06:28 AM on April 26, 2012

holden, hope you don't mind my giving your poem a name. if you prefer a different one, let me know!

posted by scully at 09:47 AM on April 26, 2012