The Other Moscow Derby

Two recent transfers, Shifo and Bakkal, high-five each other on a game well-played. Photo: RIA Novosti

With Petrescu's last day being disqualified, assistant coach Emil Caras took over the sidelines. Dynamo started off with a bang - Dzsudzsák picked up the ball after Lokomotiv goalkeeper Kreshic failed to clear it. His one-touch shot was apprehended by Vedran Corluka. Maicon missed out on an early chance for Lokomotiv on the 9th minute. Dynamo keeper Shunin bounced the ball out in front of him, then took it in a fall. A quick counter soon followed by the guest team. Nikita Chicherin dribbled past a defender to shoot from inside the box, yet Corluka was able to clear the ball out. The magic began 12 minutes into the game when Aleksandr Kokorin got a perfect cross from Dzsudzsák, flew past Corluka and Taras Burlak, and easily won the rendezvous with the keeper, netting in his team's second goal of the season. Igor Semshov was so close to making it double. His shot bounced off a defender and came back, but his rendezvous with the keeper ended in a wide attempt. Dzsudzsáks cross to Lomic resulted in another attempt for the blue-and-whites, but the ball went flying past the post. 

Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu celebrates his team's goal. Photo: RIA Novosti

All the while, Maicon kept losing the ball whenever he picked it up. Yet he finally pulled through for the Railroaders, heading in the equalizer after Dynamo's defenders left him alone with the keeper in a failed attempt to create an offside trap. Andrey Yeshchenko entered the penalty box from the left flank, getting the ball to Samedov, whose shot was saved by Shunin. Dynamo were putting on the pressure, forcing the home team to sink back in their side of the field. Once again, Samedov tried to break through the Dynamo defense, delivering a free kick into the box where Corluka ran past a defender. It was an easy save for Shunin, unlike the home team's set pieces. Noboa took a free kick for Dynamo after Lomic was brought down, sending the ball over the net. A nice potential combination by Dynamo ended in a shot straight into the opposition's keeper. 

Marko Lomic's halftime replacement, Pavel Nyakhaychyk, took up Kokorin's beautiful pass in the box and sent it well wide of the net. The home team had a corner that, fortunately for the guests, ended in a shot that hit the side netting. Dynamo's counter failed as the players lost the ball in the center for the umpteenth time. Nyakhaychyk made up for the error by making a run on the left flank and getting a corner. A few minutes later, Shishkin did his part in preventing the guests from getting further with their combination. A beautiful counter by the guests continued the magic. Kokorin's through ball to Dzsudzsák gave Balazs a left-footed shot into the near post. Loko equalized soon enough; the newly acquired forward Dame N'Doye, who transfered from Danish Superliga's FC Copenhagen, scored his first goal for the Railroaders and the second equalizer by the home team. A free kick delivery gave him the header from close range. Evidently, Shunin was going for the 'most missed headers' record; to say he didn't try to stop the ball would be an understatement. Luckily for him, his teammates were quick to take back the score. Dzsudzsák provided the cross to Noboa from the right, and the latter had the perfect one-touch finish to send the ball into the left corner of the net. This was the Dynamo that fans wanted to see. The home team didn't stop putting on the pressure, and managed to successfully take the ball away from the Blue-and-Whites. Kresic saved Bilic's team from Semshov's attempt to get a third goal in. 

Bilic taught his club well - the set piece masters infiltrated the net twice in the last minutes of play, saved only by the top of the net and by Granat, who cleared the ball out from the goal line after Felipe Caicedo's shot ricocheted off Shunin. A Lokomotiv fan stood out among the crowd with a Nike shirt that read "Haters = motivators". Perhaps that's true for today's team; Dynamo came back from two equalizers from the home team, quite the contrary to the New England Revolution of the MLS. But there was much more at work for the club. The new management restored the team's faith, and that's the greatest motivation of all.

Regardless, Dynamo still have quite a lot to work on. They're losing the ball quite a lot in the center of the pitch, something I've seen all too often in Liga Mexicana games. The positive things to point out from this match would be better possession and the team's initiative to move forward, both features that were missing prior to today. Balazs Dzsudzsák was definitely the Man of the Match, getting two assists and a goal. Kokorin got a goal and an assist as well. Granat's defending was superb. The only player who shouldn't have started was goalkeeper Shunin. Overall, though, the team is definitely shaping up both physically and technically. 

Half-back Artur Yusupov was right to point in an interview out that the team's mindest was what made the difference. Dutch Midfielder Otman Bakkal, who debuted for Dynamo in the last minutes of the match, told Sovsport that he was glad his debut coincided with the team's first win. Assistant coach Dmitri Khokhlov summed it up best in his interview for the official site of FC Dynamo - "...the victory will give the team both moral and physical strength. It was definitely a very important win for us in this situation".

Petrescu's last match disqualification couldn't have had a better ending.
At the moment, Dynamo no longer occupy the last place in the Premier League table (Rostov have taken over, with two draws and a loss). Tied with Volga (1-0-4), Dynamo have every opportunity to make it to the middle of the table and continue their race for the top. It'll take a few more wins from FCD and a few more losses from the likes of other teams, but the restoration of a legendary club will be well worth the effort. 

Two of the RPL leaders, Zenit and Spartak, lost three points in today's games. Zenit, Terek, Spartak, and Rubin currently occupy the top four. Hiddink's Anzhi is in 7th place, but only one win away from 5th. Tomorrow's RPL matches will be Amkar vs. Krasnodar, CSKA vs. Krylia Sovetov, and Anzhi vs. Mordovia. 

Dynamo's Next Games

Dynamo will face off against Stuttgart in the 2nd leg of the UEFA Europa League qualifying playoffs on Tuesday, August 28th at 12PM EST. On September 2nd, Dynamo plays at home against Petrescu's former club, Kuban Krasnodar. 

Dynamo fans with a banner that reads "More Than a Club". Photo: fcdynamo.ru

Russian Premier League - 6th matchday
Saturday, August 25, 2012, 5:30AM EST

FC Lokomotiv Moscow vs. FC Dynamo Moscow - 2:3 (1:1)
Arena: Lokomotiv Arena (Moscow, Russia)
Referee: Sergey Lapochkin (St. Petersburg)
Goals:
0:1 Aleksandr Kokorin (Asst. Balazs Dzsudzsák) ('12)
1:1 Maicon ('21)
1:2 Balazs Dzsudzsák (Asst. Aleksandr Kokorin) ('59)
2:2 Dame N'Doye ('65)
2:3 Christian Noboa (Asst. Balazs Dzsudzsák) ('68) 

Halftime Stats:
Shots (on goal): 4(3):6(3)
Corners: 2:1
Fouls: 7:9
No offsides.

Full-time Stats:
Shots (on goal): 9(5):10(6)
Corners: 4:3
Fouls: 14:19
No offsides.

El Clasico is arguably the most highly-anticipated match of any season in football. Fans around the world get to see two of the greatest teams and oldest rivals go head to head. Though more often than not the Clasico brings about more drama off the pitch (including the age-old Messi vs. Ronaldo comparison), the game has not lost a bit of its flavor. If anything, today's match showed that neither Barcelona nor Madrid are showing any signs of slowing down. Since taking over Barcelona's managerial post, former assistant Tito Vilanova has followed in the footsteps of famed Barca coach Pep Guardiola, who announced his resignation at the end of last season. After 4 years of working at the club, Guardiola helped Barcelona earn 14 trophies, an unheard-of record.

Though the game seemed pretty equal at first glance, it was the home team that had the advantage at Camp Nou. Barcelona was ahead in possession, keeping the ball over 70% of the time throughout the entire first half. Pique had a long-range effort early on. Madrid's counter was cut short; it was the beginning of the end for the rivals from Bernabeu. Lionel Messi worked the ball from the center of the box, shooting on the left side, and missing the far post by a small margin. A ball by Alexis was saved by Casillas and went out for a corner. Victor Valdes wasn't tested too often, but managed to punch out the ball after a Madrid corner on the 36th minute. Madrid seemed a bit panicked, yet despite Barcelona's initiative and the fast-paced tempo of the entire game, both sides were lacking in accuracy. Barcelona had more attempts than Madrid, albeit some sloppy ones. Madrid was great on the defense, but hadn't really done much in terms of attacking. Set pieces were delivered and cleared, three players were booked, yet no goals were scored. 

Scoreless at Camp Nou: Ronaldo and Busquets vie for the ball. Source: el-comepan

In keeping with the traditional dramatic flavor of El Clasico, the second half more than made up for the first. On many occasions, the team that tries hardest but can't score is the one that ends up conceding first. Today was no different; Real brought on the pressure, and a corner delivered by Ozil got Ronaldo his header on the 55th minute. In no time at all, the home team had equalized. Pedro's right-footed shot to the far post fired past Casillas. It was easy to speculate that a goal-scoring fest was about to erupt after all. Xavi, Alexis, and Pique all took turns trying to get the ball past Casillas. Iniesta made a brilliant run on the 69th minute, only to be brought down by none other than Sergio Ramos. Messi went up to take the penalty. He fooled Casillas, netting the ball into the opposite side of the net. A hardcore fan of the Barcelona star invaded the pitch in an attempt to join in Messi's goal celebration, but was apprehended by stadium security faster than the home team had scored the equalizer. Ozil could have had a one-on-one rendezvous with the keeper, but a defender kicked the ball out from under his feet, making it a corner for Madrid. A beautiful counter on the 78th minute provided Barcelona with their 3rd goal of the match. Xavi picked up the ball in the box after a combination play with Messi, calmly netting it past Iker Casillas. There were less than 7 minutes left of regulation time, and plenty more opportunities for both teams to score. Messi took a shot just a meter away from the target, and Casillas came through for his team with a great save. Angel Di Maria took advantage of Valdes's uncertainty while trying to clear the ball and outplayed the keeper, tightening the score. The three minutes of added time saw no more action from either side, and the first leg of the Supercopa ended in a victory for Messi and company.

Ronaldo celebrates his goal. Source: scoppiachelavittoriaenostra.

Barcelona was able to come off of conceding to winning on their own pitch. Can Madrid outrun the Catalan side at the Bernabeu on August 29th? Perhaps the results of the next Clasico will only confirm that the La Liga championship will be an even greater stand-off than ever. 

Di Maria nets in the second goal for Madrid.

Supercopa de Espana - 1st leg
Thursday, August 23, 2012, 4:30pm EST

FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid - 3:2 (0:0)
Arena: Camp Nou (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain)
Referee: Carlos Clos Gomez (Zaragoza, Spain)
Goals:
0:1 Cristiano Ronaldo ('55)
1:1 Pedro Rodriguez ('56)
2:1 Lionel Messi (PK) ('70) 
3:1 Xavi Hernandez ('78)
3:2 Angel di Maria ('85) 

"Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress."
- Bruce Barton

Stuttgart players Torun, Traore, Hajnal, and co. celebrate their teammate's goal. Source: jerrykiki

In the last round before the Group Stage of the Europa League, Bundesliga's VfB Stuttgart defeated RPL side FC Dynamo Moscow 2-0 at Mercedes-Benz Arena. The fact that the game was a bit of a sleeper didn't prevent fans from coming out to support their teams. The stadium really filled up during halftime. 5-time German champions Stuttgart, who finished 6th in the 2011-12 season of the Bundesliga, faced off against a team that lost 5 consecutive league games, scoring only one goal and winning only in their last qualifier against Scottish side Dundee United. For Dynamo captain Kevin Kuranyi, the match was a bit nostalgic. The striker ended his youth career playing for Stuttgart and played for both the reserve team and the main team in the early 2000's. The match was an important one for Dynamo's new coach, Chelsea "Ledge" Dan Petrescu. The Romanian manager's debut match wasn't exactly a party, but it did give him his first real insight into the team's issues and a useful view from the sidelines, as he has to miss another RPL match due to his disqualification. 

Dynamo's Luke Wilkshire made a few early challenges; the Sergio Ramos of Dynamo earned his customary yellow of the match on the 5th minute of play. There wasn't much action on the pitch from either team, and the commentator filled up the time by reminiscing on Stuttgart's success. The German team won the championship and were runners-up of the German Cup 5 years ago. Evidently, today's Stuttgart is as far from their past success as Dynamo is from their last victory. The German team had more of the ball, but weren't making a real effort of storming the net. The guests, meanwhile, kept losing the ball in completely pointless scenarios that even a third league English club wouldn't be caught in the middle of. Though neither team had an edge to their game, the cheers of Dynamo fans escalated when Wilkshire passed to Balázs Dzsudzsák, but the latter  shot the ball high into the stands. Stuttgart's Shinji Okazaki made a few runs up the left flank and would have gotten away with getting an assist if it wasn't for his meddling teammates. The German club's forwards were like the Dynamo defense; though physically present, they made the occasional uninsightful appearance on the pitch. Dynamo keeper Shunin barely saved Martin Harnik's header on the 27th minute, a warning to the Russian team. Despite the fact that the Germans weren't pushing forward, Dynamo players chose to lie low and stick around on their half of the pitch, where they kept losing the ball. Some of Stuttgart's fouls were ignored by the Scottish referee, making the commentator question whether the official was simply going easy on the teams because of the situation with Glasgow Rangers. Yusupov, not one to usually create something effective, had a shot from 35 meters out, but the ball was well off target. Frustrated with his team's lack of action, Dan Petrescu subbed out Misimovic for Semshov on the 38th minute of play. Perhaps he assumed that the veteran player, who wasn't getting call-ups for the National Team, would be motivated to prove himself on the pitch and thus freshen things up. It was the Dynamo defense, however, that was effective in the last ten minutes of the first half, preventing Harnik from making a vital pass. Dynamo got a few set pieces, all of which amounted to nothing. A result-less first half for both teams still saw much more of the German team than the Russians. Stuttgart led 4-2 in shots, 2 of which were on goal, while Dynamo hadn't even hit the target. The Germans were ahead on set pieces. Dynamo was only ahead in fouls (9-8). 

The lack of halftime substitutions was surprising; at this point, both teams needed to make significant changes and take risks. It's the playoff stage - there's no messing around. Not surprisingly, Artur Yusupov earned the second yellow of the match. The Dynamo midfielder was booked for a completely unnecessary challenge. Noboa's foul gave away a free kick to Stuttgart early on. FCD had a free kick themselves, but the usual scenario was in play. Yet Stuttgart were swooping around the opposition's box, and they weren't about to leave anytime soon. Bruno Labbadia, who took over as manager of the German club after the team's rendezvous in the relegation zone in the 2010-2011 season, made a double substitution. Okazaki, who was no longer as active as he was at the start of the first half, came off for left winger Ibrahima Traoré, while Tunay Torun came on for Harnik. The Germans continued to occupy the opposition's box, with the exception of Dynamo's first corner on the 68th minute. Labbadia knew how to change up the game - the lackluster team finally countered, and Shunin cleared the ball out for a throw-in. Unfortunately, the Dynamo keeper is the Catastrophe James of Russian football. Defender Tim Hoogland, on loan from Schalke, had a shot that could have been easily taken by an average goalkeeper. Shunin bounced the ball away instead, and the stale defense stood motionless as Vedad Ibisevic shot the ball in on the rebound from close range. Kuranyi, who was playing with an injury, was subbed off for the 17-year-old rookie Andrei Panyukov. Meanwhile, Stuttgart's Hajnal left the pitch for forward Cacau. The Germans were finally putting on the pressure, something that Dynamo hadn't been able to do at all during the match. As soon as Cacao came on, he attempted to get a long range shot in. A corner by the home team was successfully cleared by Shunin. Petrescu's last sub was bringing on Vladimir Granat for Pavel Nyakhaychyk. A pseudo-attempt by Dynamo finally came on the 87th minute when a delivery from the left flank gave Leandro Fernandez and Panyukov the opportunity for a header, but neither player could reach the ball. Stuttgart's next corner was cleared by Shunin, and the rebound by William Kvist went over the net. Cacao was still looking for a goal, but his attempt fell through as well. It was almost too easy to assume that the match was coming to a close. Yet Stuttgart wasn't done. Traore curved the ball toward Ibisevic. The Dynamo defense practically gave away the second goal, and the Bosnian footballer celebrated his double. Dynamo did little in added time, though they finally got a bit of possession and a set piece. The team's sloppy handling of the ball ended the first leg of the playoffs in a loss, while Stuttgart set a great precursor for their season in the Bundesliga.

One of the oft-used sayings about any sport is that one learns much less from victory than from defeat. Hopefully that translates into Dan Petrescu learning of Dynamo's non-existent midfield and lack of physical fitness. The transfer window is still open for about 2 more weeks. Will FCD pick up at least one new player? Will Petrescu find a way to both motivate the players and get the team in shape for the coming games? It's quite likely we'll find the answers to these and other questions very soon. In just 3 days, the Russian team will play their 6th game of the RPL against Lokomotiv. The second leg of the Europa League qualification playoffs against Stuttgart will be played on the 28th at 12pm EST. Dynamo's 7th RPL match on September 2nd will be against none other than Dan Petrescu's former club, Kuban. It doesn't get more ironic than this. Except maybe if Dynamo somehow won the RPL this season. The world of football is full of surprises. As Southampton's recent match with Manchester City showed, there's no telling what's in store for any team this season.


UEFA Europa League Qualifiers - Playoff Stage
Wednesday, August 22, 2012, 12:15pm EST

VfB Stuttgart vs. FC Dynamo Moscow - 2:0 (0:0) 
Arena: Mercedes-Benz Arena (Stuttgart, Germany)
Referee: William Collum (Scotland)
Goals: 
1:0 Vedad Ibisevic ('71)
2:0 Vedad Ibisevic (Asst. Ibrahima Traore) ('90+)

Prologue

The team has had 10 different managers in the past 10 years. While that lack of stability may not affect a team like Chelsea that has the funds to purchase not only some of the best players, but some of the best managers, it does affect the legendary Russian team. To say that FCD has had a rocky start to the season would be an understatement. Dynamo is currently the only team to have not acquired a single point in all 5 of their games. The only game Dynamo has won was against Scottish team Dundee United for the UEFA Europa League qualifiers.

Petrescu to the Rescue

Can a new club President and manager restore a team to its former glory?

Perhaps the second part of that question currently resides with Liverpool fans, but I'm referring to the Russian club Dynamo Moscow.

Ever since former coach Sergei Silkin literally took apart a team that was good enough to win bronze in the RPL (under Kobelev, the team reached 3rd place in the league for the first time in over a decade), the once legendary club hasn't been able to get even a draw since the end of last season. Forget the Europa League qualifiers for now. As prestigious as it is to have made it to a European tournament, it's more important to stay up top in the league. A team that's unstable can only win a large tournament by chance - the epitome of good fortune was Chelsea winning the Champions League. Yet Chelsea were in the middle of the EPL table, and it's impossible to compare the technically crafty English teams with those in Russia. One thing England has going for them is their slew of local talent - even wealthy teams like Manchester United and Chelsea have a ton of England-born players.

Exactly how far can Dynamo get with Dan Petrescu in the mix? Just nine years ago, Petrescu was playing as a defender for his native club, Fotbal Club Progresul Bucureşti, where he ended his career at the age of 35. A year later, Petrescu went on to coach several clubs in his homeland. In 2006, he had a brief stint at Polish club Wisła Kraków. Under Petrescu, the former champions finished in 2nd place in the league. Apparently Petrescu's demands of the players were not welcomed by the club's owners, and he was relieved of his duties. Petrescu debuted as a coach in Russia in December 2009, having signed a contract with Kuban Krasnodar. He not only promoted the team to the Premier League within one season, but also led the team to an 8th place finish last season.

Petrescu's decision to quit as manager of Kuban was rather shocking to fans. The team, which has been going back and forth between the Premier League and the First Division, seemed to be looking rather sharp under Petrescu's reign. But the Romanian manager is not one to stop at a single accomplishment. Possessing a "carpe diem" attitude, Petrescu signed a three-year contract with FC Dynamo Moscow this Saturday. He saw an opportunity and he seized it. Interim coach Dmitri Khokhlov, who has had previous success with the reserve team, will join Petrescu's managerial staff. In Petrescu's recent interview for the official site of FC Dynamo, the Romanian manager mentioned his thirst for challenges. He hasn't been handed teams on a silver platter - he proved that he can come in and take previously unsuccessful teams and make them winners. In the interview, he describes the correlation between the club's as well as his own ambitions. "I also have maximum ambitions," he said. "I want to win titles". Despite his reputation for getting results in short periods of time, Petrescu warned fans that the road to victory begins with baby steps. His first concern will be getting Dynamo the three points that they need to begin the slow climb to the top of the leader board.

Petrescu as coach of Kuban.

Dan Petrescu playing for Chelsea FC.

Dynamo recently advanced their losing streak, losing last week's game 2-1 to Terek Grozny. Terek's manager didn't underestimate Dynamo, and that's exactly what made the difference.

Both teams ended up playing with 10 men, yet when Terek lost a player, the team looked much better than Dynamo.


Although Petrescu was unable to help Dynamo in their last game and had to resort to calling the interim coach during the game (Petrescu was disqualified for two league games while he was still manager at Kuban), he will have the opportunity to train the team for their next two games and stand on the sidelines at the Europa League qualification playoff match against Stuttgart on Wednesday.

In With the New

Dynamo's new President is Federal Security Service general-lieutenant and former substitute to the VP and Chairman of the Board of Directors Gennady Soloviev. In addition, he was the former President Yuriy Isaev's right-hand man. Yuriy Isaev himself will remain a member of the Board.

Soloviev's decision to appoint Petrescu as manager already shows his determination to push the club back to the tide of success. The general-lieutenant's presence alone is nostalgic for the club, which was founded (and funded) by the Interior Ministry.

A good manager should be able to work with the team not only on technique, but on their emotional approach to each game. A strict, determined coach like Petrescu may be just what the team needs to get out of both their scoreless rut and unmotivated play.


-- Recent Results --



Russian Premier League
Sunday, August 19, 2012, 8AM EST

FC Dynamo Moscow vs. FC Terek Grozny - 1:2 (0:1)
Arena: Arena Khimki (Moscow, Russia)
Referee: Aleksey Eskov
Goals:
0:1 Maciej Rybus ('30)
1:1 Balazs Dzsudzsak ('75)
1:2 Maciej Rybus ('83)

David de Gea makes the save. Source:  david-lindegaard

The stand-off between Everton and Manchester United was a sight for sore eyes. The lack of a goal-scoring fest did not take away from both teams' motivation to play a good game. Wayne Rooney was prevented from shooting by the talented Everton defense. Marouane Fellaini, who went on to score the only goal of the match, dribbled past Valencia and Carrick, hitting the post on the 14th minute of play. Fergie's side fired back with a series of impressive attempts. Two consecutive shots by Danny Welbeck were blocked by Distin and captain Phil Neville, a former United player and the younger brother of former United right-back Gary Neville. Not surprisingly, the guests were well ahead in possession. Fergie's team had several consecutive goal attempts. Welbeck's shot went wide of the left side of the net, Rooney's ball was cleared by Darron Gibson, and Nani's attempt flew wide of Tim Howard's net. An Everton corner gave United's Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea the opportunity to make an impact. He punched away Gibson's cross and brought Leon Osman's shot over the top of the net. Rooney curved the ball in from a free kick, but Tim Howard got the ball out for a corner. The goalkeeping fiesta continued as De Gea once again came through for the Red Devils. Everton's Steven Pienaar aimed for the far post, and United's keeper cleared it away, getting back on his feet immediately after the save. Tom Cleverley cleared the ball away at the last moment when Phil Neville attempted to get a cross to Leighton Banes. Nani got the cross to Rooney in the penalty area; the latter turned to shoot, but the ball flew right to where Howard was positioned in front of the net. Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa, who debuted for Manchester United in the starting eleven, produced a nice pass to Danny Welbeck, but the latter missed the target. Everton's Fellaini got the ball to Osman, whose shot to the near post was pawed away in a great leap by David de Gea. United led in attempts, but the two teams were even when it came down to shots on goal. Everton's last attempts before halftime were certainly not their final ones of the match. David Moyes's team had a free kick that was taken by Leighton Baines, a player who scored against United during his spell at Wigan. This time, Baines curved the ball in to the near post, only to watch as David de Gea took the ball out for a corner. Another set piece came in added time - Everton's corner delivery bounced off a defender, leaving United's Nani with the counter. Everton Vice-captain Phil Jagielka cleared the ball away before the halftime whistle.

The second half was, without a doubt, a magnificent encore. Rooney's early shot went wide, while Everton's Darron Gibson shot the ball high off-target. Fellaini picked up a cross from Tony Hibbert on the 50th minute, playing the ball to Osman, whose powerful shot ended up hitting the crossbar. United countered with Kagawa and Welbeck leading the way. Again, Jagielka slid in to clear the ball away. Rooney had two more chances for his team, but his attack was cut short by Distin, and his shot from outside the box flew past the net. On the 57th minute, Everton finally cut to the chase. Gibson's corner kick into the box gave Fellaini his much-anticipated goal-scoring moment. Fellaini won the header and the hearts of Everton fans, sending the ball flying off of a ricochet past De Gea. As ESPN rightfully pointed out, there was a new "star of the show". Fellaini wasn't stopping with one header, though. De Gea took the ball before the Belgian could score again. Manchester United were inches away from equalizing when Nani made a cross into the box. US National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard marked Welbeck, and when Tom Cleverley got the ball instead and took a shot at the open net, Jagielka was there to back up the keeper and clear the attempt. Rooney had no one to pass the ball to from the right flank, and Robin Van Persie was subbed in for Welbeck. RVP made his debut by immediately taking the corner for his team. United appeared to be getting ahead, despite the great defending that the Blues were showing. Nani's game was disappointing, though, and didn't differ much from his usual hapless squanders. Two United newcomers created a great combination. Van Persie gave a great pass to Kagawa on the 79th minute, who dribbled past several defenders and was not far from goal when Tim Howard saved the ball. It's difficult to determine what was wrong with such a good-looking picture - the fact that United lost to Everton for the fourth time in twenty-one games, or that the former Arsenal goal-scorer didn't do much else to contribute to altering the result in the remaining ten minutes of the match. Sir Alex Ferguson subbed out Cleverley for Anderson. The Brazilian contributed to United's last attempt of the match. After Tim Howard blocked Patrice Evra's shot, Anderson tried to score himself, but unlike Evra, he ended up kicking the ball past the net. 

There's a lot that Robin Van Persie could have done to save the game for his team and earn the Red Devils at least one point in their first game of the season. He had ten minutes, plus added time, to make an impact, and only one potential assist. It's safe to say that the stars of today's match were Marouane Fellaini and defender Phil Jagielka. A player's prior success does not necessarily guarantee their future performance, whether for their current team or at another club. Perhaps the best measure of success is that of a player who achieves great fame, but doesn't let the six-figure digits get to his head. The next few games will say a lot about whether Robin Van Persie will help turn things around for United.


Barclay's Premier League
Monday, August 20, 2012, 3PM EST

Everton FC vs. Manchester United - 1:0 (0:0)
Arena: Goodison Park (Liverpool, England)
Referee: Andre Marinner (Birmingham, England)
Goals: 
1:0 Marouane Fellaini ('57)

In a style not at all reminiscent of the Dynamo vs. Terek match, Anzhi tied with last season's champions Zenit in Makhachkala, Russia. Both veteran and rookie players played a great game for Zenit. 18-year-old Luka Đorđević made his debut for the RPL champions, playing a full 90 minutes and partaking in some of the most important attacks of the game. Both teams played an open game from start to finish, but Zenit took over the midfield roughly 15 minutes in. Đorđević set up the attack on the 20th minute outside the box and passed to Bystrov. The latter moved towards the center and got the ball to Zyryanov, who fooled the defenders by delaying his shot, scoring from a meter away. Anzhi fired back with a counter. Shatov had a free kick for Anzhi on the 26th minute and delivered the ball into the box, getting Traore the header, which ricocheted off the pitch and was somehow saved by Russia National Team goalkeeper Malafeev. Fayzulin's right-footed shot on the 28th minute was easily apprehended by the keeper as well. Both teams were getting set pieces, but Anzhi were unable to equalize in the first half. Bystrov's shot from outside the box went flying close to the far post. Zenit had another attempt during added time when Fayzulin and Zyryanov completed a corner and got the ball to the rookie Đorđević, whose shot hit the post for the second time in the match and ricocheted out onto the pitch. At halftime, Zenit led in possession 56:44%, had 4 times more shots on goal than the home team, and were equal in corners.

Anzhi keeper Gabulov makes the save. Photo: FC Zenit Official Website.

Guus Hiddink must have given his team the right advice during the break; Anzhi was determined as ever to score and got ahead in the initiative, though Zenit were still attacking. Anzhi still had problems finishing, while Zyryanov lost the chance to score a double. The home team was temporarily down to 10 men while Zhirkov got treated for a broken nose. Oleg Shatov scored the equalizer for Anzhi on the 66th minute. Manager Guus Hiddink looked formidably calm, as though that's exactly the way things should be. Tagirbekov's throw-in into the box flew to Chris Samba, who assisted Shatov's goal. Smolov attempted to make a one-on-one run with the Zenit keeper, but Malafeev was there first. Fans kept chanting "till the end", reminding the players that the game isn't over until the final whistle blows. Although Zenit had a few more attempts, the team wasn't very technical when it came to set pieces. The best free kick Spaletti's team had came on the 90th minute when Fayzulin's free kick went just a bit over the net. Anzhi took the final corner - Samba's shot ricocheted off a defender, and Smolov's ball skidded on top of the net. Manager Spalletti ran up to the stand of Zenit fans and applauded them for their support, a nice tradition that the Italian manager keeps up. Both Zenit and Anzhi played a great game; the tie was a fair result. 

Zenit currently occupies the leader board with 12 points, having won all 4 of their games. Spartak Moscow have 12 points after 5 games as well, winning 4 and losing 1. Anzhi are temporarily in 7th place, as the two teams above have only one more point. The two teams below Anzhi, Krylya Sovetov and Krasnodar, are only one point away from catching up as well. 


Russian Premier League
Sunday, August 19, 2012, 1PM EST

Anzhi Makhachkala vs. Zenit St. Petersburg - 1:1 (0:1)
Arena: Dynamo Stadium (Makhachkala, Russia)
Referee: Vladimir Kazmenko (Rostov-on-Don, Russia)
Goals: 
0:1 Konstantin Zyryanov (Asst. Vladimir Bystrov) ('20)
1:1 Oleg Shatov (Asst. Christopher Samba) ('66)

Olivier Giroud reacts to missing his golden opportunity.

Arsenal played its first game without striker Robin Van Persie on the first day of the 
2012/13 season. German forward Lukas Podolski made his debut for the Gunners in the regular season. The German already played (and scored) against his former team FC Köln in a pre-season friendly. Frenchman Olivier Giroud played his first game for the Gunners after transfering from Montpellier, where he scored 33 goals in 71 matches. In addition, two Spanish players debutted for both Arsenal and Sunderland. The Gunners unveiled Santi Cazorla, who transfered from Málaga due to the team's financial problems, while the Black Cats brought former Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuéllar to the pitch. 

The home team were strong from the very beginning and created numerous chances on the other half of the pitch. However, Sunderland made use of every opportunity they got, stalking Arsenal for any failed passes or possibilities to counter. Sunderland's James McClean had an early attempt that was saved by Szczęsny, but Arsenal fired back with a counter, forcing Mignolet to make a one-handed save. Jack Colback hit the ball low and hard after picking up a through ball from Stéphane Sessègnon, testing Szczęsny again. The match saw some lovely plays from Gervinho. He set up the ball for Cazorla on the 19th minute, but the Spaniard's shot went wide of the net. Abou Diaby's cross from the right side gave Podolski his first opportunity to score. He handled the ball rather poorly, and Mignolet got the ball out for a corner. Podolski and his German teammate Per Mertesacker played the ball well to Theo Walcott, who couldn't get ahold of it to take a shot. Cazorla gave Walcott another opportunity a few minutes later, but Theo just couldn't control the header. Diaby picked up the ball from Podolski after Mignolet's save, managing to eke out a corner. Walcott picked up the ball on the right side and delivered it to Podolski in much the same way he set up the ball for RVP last season; the German chipped it high, failing to make use of the attempt. Gervinho started up again on the left. The Sunderland defense was there this time and cleared the ball away. Much could be said about Arsenal's failed attempts against a largely defensive team.

The second half was a repeat of Arsenal's tactics. Cazorla picked up the ball from Gervinho and shot it wide. Lukas Podolski, whose free kick earlier on went high, delivered the ball to Walcott, whose shot ended up hitting the side netting. In an attempt to freshen up the attack, Wenger subbed out Podolski for fellow Frenchman Giroud. Wales captain Aaron Ramsey came on for Diaby as well. Unfortunately, Ramsey and Giroud made the same errors as Podolski; the latter had a great chance after his teammates lost the ball in the box, but he sent the ball high. It seemed as though Arsenal was having more problems breaking down the Sunderland defense than at the start of the match. Wenger's team had their best attempt on the 82nd minute, when Giroud's shot missed the wide open net. Both teams knew, however, that the game isn't over until the final whistle. Arsenal tried to make use of set pieces in added time. Sunderland's Cuéllar blocked Arshavin's shot after a corner. Kieran Richardson covered for the guests as well. Although Sunderland were not on the attack as much as the home team, their defense was superb and proved to be enough to prevent Wenger's side from taking three points.

Though the game saw no goals from either side, it was nice to see the EPL back in action. Both teams showed that English football is great to watch at any level. The refereeing is also incomparible with any other league.  

Podolski, Gervinho, Cazorla, and Walcott were all great at distributing the ball, but the absence of an active forward was written all over the game. That's not to say that Arsenal did not have their home field advantage. Wenger's team were always on the attack; they just couldn't finish.

With the first game of the season, it's too early to judge whether Robin Van Persie's 
transfer will have a negative impact on Arsenal's game. It's hard to put the finger of shame on one player when you take into account the team as a whole. Yet the Gunners are about to lose another talent as Alex Song prepares to sign for FC Barcelona this weekend. Looks like it'll be up to Lukas Podolski, Gervinho, and Olivier Giroud to net some balls in. Arsenal fans will be patiently waiting.



English Premier League
Saturday, August 18, 2012, 10:00AM EST

Arsenal vs. Sunderland - 0:0 (0:0)
Arena: Emirates Stadium (Holloway, London, England). Attendance: 60,078
Referee: Chris Foy (Lancashire, England)
Goals: N/A.

Klinsmann's Historic Win

Chicharito vies with Geoff Cameron. Photo: Getty

Guardado started off the second half for Mexico, but the ball went high.
Santos Laguna midfielder Edgar Lugo got the perfect cross, but his header was way off-target and he missed a very easy attempt. Chicharito, who finally got a shot on goal, was prevented from scoring by the always talented Tim Howard. All too soon, Chicharito missed another golden opportunity; he had a problem reaching crosses throughout the second half. Whenever he did fulfill his shot, the defense reminded him that it wasn't easy scoring against Klinsmann's USA. Herculez Gomez tested Memo Ochoa, who, unlike Tim Howard, did not have much work to do today. Kyle Beckerman's shot ricocheted off a player lying on the pitch and ended up posing a threat to the net and going over the top of the crossbar. Memo Ochoa was there just in case and toppled over into his own net as the ball safely glided above. This was by far the USA's closest attempt, though it wasn't the way the team intended it to be. As Mexico continued to dominate, midfielder Beasely was great on the defense, and Geoff Cameron got many props from fans for his game. Both teams seemed to be letting their emotions get in the way of finishing. De Nigris made a great pass from the right flank, but none of his Mexican teammates were running toward the ball. Something quite magical happened in the last ten minutes of the match. Klinsmann's team appeared to have had an epiphany - an awakening of sorts. Right after Brek Shea came on for Gomez, he led the attack on the left flank and got the ball to Terence Boyd. Boyd did an excellent back-heel flick (a la Eduard Streltsov) and Michael Orozco netted the ball in from close range. Chicharito wasn't finished, however. He had two last attempts at saving the game for Mexico. Howard took both shots - the ricochet and the last-minute header. 

The match as a whole was the epitome of going to the doctor's office for the first time in years - you're afraid of that needle until that very last second, and when you finally go through with the shot, it doesn't hurt as much as you thought it would. Neither did this victory.


International Friendly 
Wednesday, August 15, 2012, 8PM (EST)

Mexico vs. United States - 0:1 (0:0)
Arena: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, Mexico)
Goals:
0:1 Michael Orozco (Asst. Terence Boyd) ('80)

20-year-old Keeper Saves Messi Penalty

Holger Badstuber attempts to stop Messi.

Argentine hopes were marred when Gonzalo Higuain suffered a head injury early on, and the German side had a clear advantage at the beginning of the game. However, Argentina took over possession pretty soon, taking over Germany's box on multiple occasions. Things took a turn for the worse for Die Mannschaft when keeper Ron-Robert Zieler was sent off; he went for the ball hands-first, colliding with Jose Ernesto Sosa. The referee interpreted the moment as an intentional foul and gave a penalty to the guest team. The Germans were forced to sub out an on-field player for another keeper, and Marc-André ter Stegen came on instead of midfielder Thomas Müller. Leo Messi came up to take the shot, but his attempt to fool the 20-year-old Borussia keeper backfired; he visibly halted before shooting, and Stegen took the ball. Messi attempted to storm the net before half-time once more, but he won't be fooling Stegen anytime soon. Germany captain Klose missed out on a brilliant opportunity after getting the ball from Reus. A counter provided by Howedes was cut short by the German defense, forcing the Argentine side to build up their attack from scratch. A corner taken by Di Maria in added time ricocheted off of Real Madrid's Sami Khedira, resulting in an unfortunate own goal and ending the first half on a dramatic note. 

Marc-André ter Stegen saves Leo Messi's penalty.

The game's tempo definitely quickened as both sides became more eager to score. The Germans had a fantastic opportunity on the 50th minute, and the resulting goal was disallowed for an offside. But the 10-man Germany had more challenges to face. Gonzalo Higuain made a brilliant run on the left flank on the 52nd minute and passed to Messi, who made up for his failed penalty by scoring. Higuain had a shot himself, but it went just shy of the crossbar. Unlike Messi, Germany's Khedira couldn't redeem himself for the own goal incident and missed the Argentine net. Argentina was on the attack, and Leo Messi had a slew of missed chances. He couldn't make use of Boateng's defensive mishap and Gonzalo Higuain's beautiful backheel flick, and though he managed to shoot the ball past Stegen, the ball went wide just 5 meters away from the net. A controversial situation arose on the 67th minute when an Argentine slid into a German player in the box. Instead of giving a penalty, the referee called for a corner. Though neither player was a keeper, the situation was similar to Zieler's supposed foul. Sergio Romero was a solid keeper for the Argentine team and apprehended the German attempt that followed. A Barcelona and Madrid player worked together on the 73rd minute to produce a wonderful goal. Leo Messi got the ball to Angel Di Maria, who scored a goal in the far post from about 31 meters away. Another goal-scoring opportunity came soon after when Messi's attempt from inside the box on the 76th minute ricocheted off the post. Germany tried desperately to take back the initiative, with Hummels performing an unsuccesful header. Joachim Loew's team finally got a ball in on the 82nd minute. A great delivery by Götze led to a leap and a header by Howedes, who scored his first goal for the German National Team. Gonzalo Higuain stayed strong for the Argentine team, and his attempt on the 86th miniute went off the post. An amusing situation occurred when a fan ran out onto the pitch to greet his idol, the famous Lionel Messi. After bidding farewell, the fan calmly ran off the pitch and allowed himself to be escorted out by security. Needless to say, Leo was highly amused. 

Though the match was marred by refereeing errors, it had its share of comedy and drama.

Messi with the lucky fan.

International Friendly 
Wednesday, August 15, 2012, 2:45PM (EST)

Germany vs. Argentina - 1:3 (0:1)
Arena: Commerzbank-Arena (Frankfurt, Germany)
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
Goals:
0:2 Lionel Messi (Asst. Gonzalo Higuain) ('52)
0:3 Angel Di Maria (Asst. Lionel Messi) ('73) 
1:3 Benedikt Howedes ('82)

Russia's National Team played its first game with Fabio Capello as head coach. 20-year-old Anzhi player Arseniy Logashov debuted alongside the Italian manager, coming on as a sub for Aleksandr Anyukov, who was injured during the first half. The Ivory Coast has a relatively new manager as well - Sabri Lamouchi took over the managerial post in May 2012. The two teams were pretty equal in both set pieces and in regulary play. Russia started off the first half with several attempts at storming the net. Pavlyuchenko tested keeper Daniel Yeboah with a free kick delivery on the 11th minute. A handball in the box went unnoticed by referee Cüneyt Çakır, as did a great number of fouls from the guest team. However, the Russians managed to get a number of free kicks. Neither team was able to score in the first half, though many of the set pieces could have had potential. The Russians gave away a bit of possession before halftime, trailing 47% to the Ivory Coast's 53%. Both teams had 2 shots on goal. Russia was ahead 4-3 on both total shots and corners, though the Ivory Coast was well ahead when it came to fouls, leading 14 to 6. From a technical perspective, it was anyone's game. 

The Russian players made sure to mark Didier Drogba, the Ivory Coast's most-capped player and top goalscorer. Sergei Ignashevich prevented the former Chelsea star from making a run toward the net on the 53rd minute. Alan Dzagoev took the free kick for Russia two minutes later, scoring the home team's only goal of the match. Drogba continued to test the Russian net, but the subbed-in Malafeev was just as good as Akinfeev at blocking his shots. Despite Capello's series of substiutions and the team's leap in possession to 69%, the Russians conceded on the 77th minute when PSG defender Siaka Tiéné's cross gave Max Gradel the opportunity for a header at close range. There were no more dangerous moments at either net, except for a late free kick by the home team that caught the Ivory Coast keeper a bit off guard.

The refereeing was not near the level I've seen in other recent friendlies. The official's decisions to not card many of the players of the guest team were questionable. The Ivory Coast played a very physical game. Nevertheless, the friendly served its purpose, giving both managers a chance to observe different combinations of players on the pitch in order to make future decisions regarding the starting line-ups. It wasn't the most exciting game in terms of goal-scoring opportunities, but it was still a treat for both local and traveling fans. 


International Friendly 
Wednesday, August 15, 2012, 11AM (EST)

Russia vs. Cot D'Ivoire - 1:1 (0:0)
Arena: Lokomotiv Arena (Yarosalvl, Russia)
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (Turkey)
Goals:
1:0 Alan Dzagoev ('55)
                                          1:1 Max Gradel ('77)

Omar Gonzalez celebrates his goal with his teammates.

It was about time that Bruce Arena's star-studded team make up for the beginning of the season as well as their 4-0 loss to Seattle. While Chivas USA continued going off on the wrong track with a barren midfield, LA took back their shine and never disappointed. Robbie Keane, who had a rocky start to the season, had his best game yet. He was active on the pitch from the very start, bombarding Kennedy's net. The latter saved the shot from close range. Chivas USA attempted to counter on the right flank, with Juan Pablo Angel picking up the ball and eventually losing it at the top of the box. Kennedy came up big for Chivas - he was there to prevent Donovan, Keane, and company from making the final score 10-0. Kennedy's 53rd start just about says it all - he's a solid keeper, and one of the few reasons that Chivas haven't conceded as much as they would have this season. Former Red Bulls player Juan Pablo Angel, who had a very brief stint at LA, had another go at the net on the 21st minute, but the LA defense was at the right place at the right time, and saw the ball off to Saunders. A free kick by Chivas saw yet another opportunity for the Galaxy. Juninho set up a counter, but Donovan, who was about to make a great pass, was prevented from doing so by Danny Califf. Donovan was quite close to putting the ball in the near post on the 25th minute, but he couldn't reach the cross. The ensuing corner kick was unsuccesful as well. On the 27th minute, however, the Galaxy finally realized their potential. Donovan made a run and got the ball to Robbie Keane. The Irishman put the ball in with an almost first-touch finish that went flying past Kennedy, and celebrated his goal with a cartwheel. Juan Agudelo attempted a counter and got the ball to Bolanos, but Saunders did some solid goalkeeping as well. Valencia was carded for hitting Keane on the head, and Landon Donovan was there to take the resulting free kick. Omar Gonzalez tried to put it in after, but the ball went off the crossbar and landed in Kennedy's hands. Kennedy saved his team from Donovan's header on the 38th minute. The opposition's set pieces posed no danger to the Galaxy. Juan Pablo Angel tried to make something of the last minutes of the first half, but he had no one to pass the ball to; none of his Chivas teammates were willing to make the run. Donovan countered for LA and eventually got the ball to Keane, but his shot ricocheted away, ending the first half 1-0 for the Galaxy.

The second half saw a repeat of the amazing American/Irishman duo. Another recurring image was the solid Dan Kennedy. Donovan could have had a one-touch shot and finish, but took too long with the ball after getting it from Sean Franklin. Juan Pablo Angel had one of his best attempts for Chivas on the 58th minute when he picked up James Riley's cross in the box. His shot ended up being wide of the near post, and ESPN reminded us that in order for Chivas to score, they need to "continue to feed the beast". Dan Kennedy, in an impressive leap, saved Juninho's free kick delivery that was heading for the back post. Chivas lost the ball on the attack, resulting in a millionth LA counter. Landon Donovan was on the attack and got the ball to Juninho, whose one-touch finish completed the Galaxy's efforts on the 64th minute. Chivas were not putting on any pressure, relying mostly on accidental counters resulting from failed passes by the opposition. The Chivas defense prevented Donovan from realizing another attack, getting the ball out for a corner. If only that were the solution to preventing Juninho from scoring! The Brazilian landed his double in the back post after Donovan's third assist of the match on the 74th minute. It was Juninho's best game, no doubt, as both a player on the pitch and as a goalscorer. Credit should also be given to Omar Gonzalez, who marked the Chivas defense before the goal was scored. A Chivas free kick by Sarvas went off the head of none other than Gonzalez. Donovan picked up the ball from Keane quickly; he wanted to score himself, but Dan Kennedy was there to make the save. The ball grazed the Chivas keeper's fingers and went out for back-to-back corners. Landon Donovan's corner kick delivery on the 83rd minute saw Omar Gonzalez find a place in the middle to head the ball down for the fourth goal of the night, sealing the deal for the Galaxy. Chivas were more active during the last few minutes of the match, attempting to get a goal in for pride. Their last attempt came during added time - Joseph, who debuted for Chivas USA, made the run, but couldn't get ahold of the ball in the end, leaving it to Saunders.

Chivas currently average at 3.0 shots on goal per game this season and had the fewest tonight in MLS, 2.0 shots on goal, during their game against LA. 
The team has only scored more than 2 goals against a team twice this season.
Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy is 4th among MLS keepers in the goals against average. According to ESPN, Kennedy certainly deserves a USMNT call-up.

Gonzalez has had an incredible return after his injury. He's a dynamic player and he proved it by being in the right place at the right time both on the defense and on the attack.

There was a very special player to work the set pieces while David Beckham was away in London. U.S. National Team star Landon Donovan made all the difference on the pitch against Chivas. In a post-match interview, Donovan modestly complimented his team's defense (rather than himself and the rest of the offense).

With Donovan's assists at an all-time high, his presence will be crucial to the USMNT's game against Mexico on Wednesday. Scoring during regular play will be difficult, so set pieces will definitely determine the NT's chances of scoring.

MLS Regular Season 
- 25th matchday -
Game of the Week/SuperClasico
Sunday, August 12, 2012, 11PM (EST)

Chivas USA vs. LA Galaxy - 0:4 (0:1)
Arena: the Home Depot Center (Carson, CA)
Referee: Jair Maruffo
Goals:
                            1:0 Robbie Keane (Asst. Landon Donovan) ('27)
                            2:0 Juninho (Asst. Landon Donovan) ('64)
                            3:0 Juninho (Asst. Landon Donovan) ('74)
                            4:0 Omar Gonzalez (Asst. Landon Donovan) ('83)

Highlights:

Rubin Takes the Lead

Central Stadium at Kazan, Russia. Photo: Kate Lokteva

London 2012 Olympics – Men's Football Final
Mexico U-23 vs. Brazil U-23 – 2:1 (1:0)
Arena: Wembley Stadium
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (GBR)
Goals:
1:0 Oribe Peralta ('1)
2:0 Oribe Peralta ('75)
                                        2:1 Hulk ('90+)

Yankee Stadium © Aleks V 2012

Thoughts on Going to My First Football Match 

On Wednesday, August 8, 2012, La Liga champions Real Madrid took on AC Milan at Yankee Stadium. Fans across the New York area, including myself, were given the opportunity to see two European teams close up. This was the first time I'd been to a football game, and, seeing as how I'm not an avid baseball fan, the first time I'd been to Yankee stadium. Getting to the legendary arena that was once home to the New York Cosmos was part of the fun of itself. The closer the train got to the stadium, the more fans clad in Real Madrid and AC Milan jerseys filled up the wagon. Tens of thousands of spectators poured out onto the streets. The train station was right in front of the stadium, and there were barriers to direct the flow of human traffic toward the entrance gates. After making it to the main lobby, I took the elevator to the upper level, where the Grandstand offered a spectacular panoramic view of the entire pitch. 
AC Milan Keys to the Game:
When the game finally began, the crowd had quieted down. Perhaps that sounds like a strange thing to say with regards to a football match, but until either team made a run with the ball, the arena was only mildly talkative. Milan had a few moments here and there, but mostly played a defensive game, especially after conceding their second goal to Madrid. Aside from the one defensive mishap that led to Milan's only goal, Real Madrid fulfilled and, at times, exceeded expectations. Cristiano Ronaldo was there to make the runs with the ball. His impressive dribbling skills were visible even from afar. Mesut Ozil skillfully took the corners for Madrid, Di Maria was brilliant as a goal-scorer, and even Ricardo Kaka, who came on the pitch as a late substitution for Di Maria, made his mark by assisting three of the night's goals. It is rumored that Kaka may be heading back to AC Milan, where he spent most of his career and played behind retired Ukrainian legend Andriy Shevchenko.

Madrid takes a corner. © Aleks V 2012

AC Milan players try to get the ball past Madrid's defense. © Aleks V 2012

© Aleks V 2012

© Aleks V 2012

Man of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo