2008 Champions League Final Penalty Shootout Win

Lore & Background

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Manchester United in the 26th minute with a header from a cross by Wes Brown, but Frank Lampard equalised shortly before half-time. The second half and most of extra time passed without incident until Chelsea's Didier Drogba was sent off for slapping Nemanja Vidić four minutes from the end. In the penalty shoot-out, Ronaldo missed Manchester United's third kick, giving John Terry the chance to win the title for Chelsea, only for his shot to hit the post when he slipped as he was about to kick the ball. Edwin van der Sar then saved Nicolas Anelka's effort from Chelsea's seventh kick to secure Manchester United's third European Cup title.

In Their Own Story

The rain hammered down as the referee pointed to the spot. Terry walked forward, face masked in determination, but his footing slipped on the sodden grass; he collapsed, the ball skidding wide past the post, and the roar from the United bench was deafening. On the other side, Edwin van der Sar waited, watching Anelka's run-up. With a sharp dive to his left, the keeper palmed the effort away, sending the stadium into a frenzy of red and black. The final whistle blew moments later, and players collapsed onto the wet turf, weeping as the European Cup was lifted once again.

Reader's Guide

The match ended 1–1 after extra time. The penalty shootout went to sudden death. John Terry had the chance to win the trophy for Chelsea but slipped and hit the post. Edwin van der Sar saved only Nicolas Anelka's penalty to win the shootout 6–5 for Manchester United.

Did You Know?

• The 2008 final was the first European Cup final played in Russia, and hence the easternmost final in the tournament's history.
• It was the 100th anniversary of Manchester United's first league triumph, the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, and the 40th anniversary of United's first European Cup triumph in 1968.
• More than 67,000 people watched the game in the stadium, along with more than 17.5 million television viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland.