Soccer Central

Due to a poor first half display from Arsenal this evening, Manchester United was able to capitalise, and grabbed a goal through John O’Shea. United really should have scored more, such was poor quality of Arsenal’s first half performance; sadly for Alex Ferguson though, only the one goal was scored, and although Arsenal battled back in the second half, 1-0 to Man United was the way the game finished.

Ronaldo thumped one against the bar, and United had several other chances to score throughout the game; Almunia held firm in the Arsenal goal though, and after the goal from O’Shea, allowed for no further Man United goals to be scored.

This was a good win for United, and they now have a lead to take to the Emirates; it still won’t be an easy game next Tuesday though, and Arsene Wenger will no doubt be looking to get back into the game and make Manchester United fight.

Ryan Giggs made his 800th appearance for Manchester United this evening as he came on in place of Anderson in the 66th minute. It’s been an absolutely brilliant week for Giggs, and having won the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award on Sunday, he now hits a massive milestone in his career, and at the age of 35 is still a very important player for Manchester United. He doesn’t make too many starts anymore; he still has a strong part to play when called upon though, and is doing absolutely brilliant to still be playing in the top flight of English football after so many years in the game.

Tevez was disappointed to be substituted this evening, and received a massive amount of applause when leaving the field, as the United fans made it known just how much they’d like Carlos Tevez to stay with the club past the summer. Tevez’s future still remains uncertain, I think it’s felt by most though that Manchester United would be stupid to let him go, and fans will no doubt keep fingers crossed in the summer that the fee is paid to officially make Carlos Tevez a Manchester United player.

Manchester United was already the favourites to defeat Arsenal in this Champions League semi-final, and after their win this evening this still remains to be the case. Manchester United has already been to the Emirates Stadium and lost this season, Ferguson will be confident that his team can achieve a win next Tuesday though, and as the game goes out live on ITV1; I’m sure there’ll be many armchair Manchester United fans all throughout the country, willing their team to win in London, and reach a second consecutive Champions League final.

The quintuple dream is out of the question for Manchester United now after losing to Everton in the FA Cup semi-final; the quadruple is still possible though, and Alex Ferguson will no doubt be feeling very hungry for another fantastically successful season of league and cup glory.

Manchester United will now be looking to join Liverpool and Nottingham Forest as the third ever English team to win the Champions League in consecutive seasons.

Chelsea will be the happier of the two sides this evening, having held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw at Nou Camp. Both teams had an excellent opportunity to score; Drogba for Chelsea, and Bojan for Barcelona, neither side was able to find the net though, and ultimately the game ended 0-0.

Chelsea has the clear advantage as they take Barcelona back to Stamford Bridge next Wednesday; Barcelona however have it all to do as they now need to achieve a win in London. History dictates that Chelsea will win the game, as in the ties that have taken place between these two teams in the past; it’s always been the team that plays its home game second that wins.

Guus Hiddink will no doubt be very pleased that all Chelsea need to do is win at Stamford Bridge to make it to a second consecutive Champions League final, and with Manchester United the favourites to win the other semi-final against Arsenal; we may yet have a repeat of last year’s Champions League final which ended with a penalty shootout victory for Manchester United.

Chelsea played a very defensive game this evening and made sure Barcelona didn’t score, they’ll no doubt be very confident for the game next week, and will definitely be feeling that they have a very good chance of winning the game. Barcelona will give the game their best shot, I just feel that Chelsea will have more about them though, and with the home advantage on their side; I just can’t see Barcelona picking up a win at Stamford Bridge. They may yet prove me wrong, but the way I see it is that Chelsea is the team heading for the final.

Manchester United versus Chelsea in the final is my prediction, tomorrow we shall see how Arsenal perform away at Old Trafford though, and if they can pick up an away goal or two then that could prove to be incredibly important. Arsenal will be without their star midfield man Andrei Arshavin as he’s not registered to play for them in the Champions League, and a number of other key players are also likely to be missing as a result of injury; Arsenal do not face at all an easy task at Old Trafford, Manchester United has been rather inconsistent of late though, and if United is having another bad day then Arsenal will definitely be looking to capitalise.

Expect an exciting game between Manchester United and Arsenal tomorrow, and if you live in the UK then be sure to tune into Sky Sports 1. Both teams are likely to be well up for this one, and an action packed game of footballing excitement can surely be guaranteed.

Desperately looking for points to secure Premier League survival; Newcastle United tonight drew with Portsmouth at St. James’ Park, and the club currently sits in a very precarious position, three points from safety.

Michael Owen had a brilliant opportunity to win the game for Newcastle, his shot was poor though, and the game ultimately ended 0-0, with neither side able to break the deadlock.

Portsmouth now sit 7 points outside the drop zone, and the team is now surely only one win from safety. For Newcastle the fight must still go on though, and Alan Shearer has a very tough job to do if he’s to keep his club in the Premier League. With Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Fulham, and Villa still to play; points are going to be very hard to come by for Newcastle, and not a single one of the four remaining games will be easy.

Sunderland and Hull City are both struggling for points right now, and are also on the edge of falling into the Championship; Newcastle, Middlesbrough, and West Brom are the three teams that have to worry the most right now though, as all three of them face relegation the way that things currently stand. It’s likely to go right down to the wire this season, and for Newcastle United; relegation is most definitely a massive threat. Newcastle may be a massive club, but the league table doesn’t lie, and their form right now simply isn’t good enough to keep a place in the Premier League.

The game against Middlesbrough will be crucial for Newcastle, and if that game is lost then the club can probably kiss goodbye to its Premier League status. You don’t really fancy Newcastle picking up any points at Anfield next Sunday, and the games against Fulham and Villa are also likely to be very difficult. A win against Middlesbrough alone will not be enough to save Newcastle, the win could perhaps provide the club with the momentum to perform well in the last two games of the season though, and may just secure the club’s Premier League survival.

Stuck in the relegation zone is never a nice place to be, with some decent results; Newcastle can survive this season though, and Alan Shearer needs to try and remain positive, and push his team towards success. It’s definitely not going to be easy, it’s what needs to be done though, and if Alan Shearer is unable to win a few games before the end of the season, then Newcastle United is going down to the Championship.

Little over two months ago; Burton Albion was 19 points out in front at the top of the Blue Square Premier, and looked an absolute certainty for promotion. Today the Burton fans were still biting their nails though as the title race went right down to the wire, with second placed Cambridge United still in with a chance of taking the title.

In order for Cambridge United to win the title; they had to rely on Burton Albion losing away at Torquay, and also had to make up a goal difference of 5. As it turned out; Burton Albion did indeed lose at Plainmoor, Cambridge United was unable to secure a win over Altrincham though, and Burton therefore won the league by 2 points.

Never in Burton’s history has the team ever played in the Football League before; that’s all set to change now though, and after 7 seasons in the Conference, Burton Albion has now won promotion to League Two.

Torquay United sealed their place in the play-offs with their win over Burton today, and will now face Histon in the play-off semi-finals for the chance to play either Cambridge United or Stevenage Borough at Wembley. It was at the semi-final stage that Torquay lost out last season, defeated by ultimate winners Exeter City, a team that is now one win away from automatic promotion to League One.

Elsewhere in the league today; Kidderminster Harriers and Oxford United were also hoping to make the play-offs, both teams lost though, and therefore finished in 6th and 7th respectively. The relegated teams had already been decided, it was a big day for those chasing promotion though, and sadly for Oxford especially; they had to face final day defeat in front of a bumper crowd of 10,298. Oxford United had to rely on results going their way in order to reach the play-offs; Torquay would have had to have lost, and Kidderminster could achieve no more than a point. As well as results going their way; Oxford also had to win their game against relegated Northwich Victoria though, and as Northwich was able to win a sixth game running, Oxford’s promotion hopes and dreams were therefore destroyed.

Burton Albion has finished the Blue Square Premier season very badly this season, and it’ll be interesting to see how the team copes in League Two. Nigel Clough was there to watch his old team secure the title today; he left before the final whistle though, and as soon as news was in that the Cambridge game was over and had ended in a draw; Clough was off, content that his former club had secured the title. It all went wrong for Burton after Nigel Clough left the club for Derby County back in January; Burton has still been able to secure promotion though, and now has games against such clubs as Bradford, Bournemouth, and Darlington to look forward to next season.

Many congratulations to Burton for reaching the Football League, and in the Blue Square Premier next season we also have some new teams to look forward to; Luton Town and Chester City will be the two teams joining the division from League Two, whilst AFC Wimbledon have won promotion form the Blue Square South, and Tamworth from the Blue Square North.

Best of luck to Burton Albion for life in the Football League next season, and good luck also to whichever team it is that ends up winning the play-offs. Torquay and Cambridge will both be looking to re-enter the Football League, Histon and Stevenage meanwhile will like Burton be hoping to join the ranks of the Football League for the first time in their history.

Despite Tottenham being 2-0 up at half-time today; Manchester United still managed to win the game 5-2, scoring five second half goals to make the win look comfortable on paper. Despite winning by three goals though; United’s win today was anything but comfortable, and were it not for a terrible decision by Howard Webb to award Manchester United with the penalty that provided them their first goal, then Manchester United may not have had the momentum to bring themselves back into this one.

Cristiano Ronaldo took his penalty very confidently in the 57th minute, and when Wayne Rooney scored the equaliser 10 minutes later; Manchester United was provided with a real rush of confidence, and really started playing like the champions that they are. 3 goals in 12 minutes followed, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney each adding another to their personal tallies, and ultimately it was Dimitar Berbatov that completed the scoring, grabbing a goal against his former employers. Berbatov’s goal wasn’t particularly pretty, it was a goal nonetheless though, and the Bulgarian will no doubt be very pleased to have scored his 9th Premier League goal of the season.

United needed a win today really after Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over troubled Hull City, and in winning the game by a three goal margin; Manchester United have now brought their goal difference to +38, enjoy a 3 point lead over Liverpool, and still have a game in hand to play.

If Manchester United and Liverpool both keep winning, then May 16th will be the day United will be able to secure the title, and could do so with a mere point against Arsenal at Old Trafford. Either team could still slip up yet though, and there’s a very real possibility that the title race could yet go right to the wire.

At half-time today, Manchester United was playing badly and looked as though they’d suffer defeat; it should be known by now never to write off Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United though, and ultimately it was Ferguson’s men that took all 3 points today, and did so in front of an Old Trafford crowd of 75,458.

Bringing on Carlos Tevez at half-time definitely did the trick for Manchester United today, and in the second half of the match all of United’s four key forward players combined well, and made sure that a victory was secured.

Manchester United wins again, and Harry Redknapp continues in his quest to win a game at Old Trafford. Redknapp has always been on the losing end when visiting Old Trafford in the league, and although he took a 2-0 half-time lead today, still he was unable to manage a team to victory against the champions, and once more he was defeated.

In September 2001, Manchester United fought back from 3-0 down to enjoy a 5-3 win at White Hart Lane, and this game was certainly very similar in the way that it turned out. Both teams were very different back in 2001 to what they are today, the end result is still very similar though, and although United didn’t win the title back in the 2001/02 season; they’ll be hoping to do so this season, and with just five games left to play for United, they definitely have it all to play for.

Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea all won today; United is the team at the top though, and United will be hoping that it will still remain that way come the end of the season. The top spot has changed hands several times in recent weeks, and could yet change several times more before the end of the season; it’s in United’s own hands to win it though, and 10 points from the next 5 games is now what is required for Manchester United to secure a record equalling 18th top level title.