Manchester United won the Champions League by beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw.

Cristiano Ronaldo headed United in front after 26 minutes but Frank Lampard equalised before the interval.

Lampard and Didier Drogba hit the woodwork before the striker saw red in extra time for slapping Nemanja Vidic.

Ronaldo missed his penalty, but John Terry hit the post with a kick that would have won it for Chelsea and Edwin van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka.

It sparked wild celebrations for Sir Alex Ferguson and his players in the Moscow rain as United won Europe’s elite trophy for the third time, a triumph made more poignant as it came 50 years on from the Munich air crash.

Ferguson had made it his mission to take the trophy back to Manchester this year in memory of those who died, and those who survived, in the tragedy in Munich in February 1958.

And it gave the 66-year-old Scot his second Champions League triumph, repeating the success against Bayern Munich in Barcelona in 1999.
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Didier Drogba scored twice as Chelsea swept into their first Champions League final at the expense of Liverpool on a night of high drama at Stamford Bridge.

The Ivorian opened the scoring with a 12-yard strike, but Fernando Torres’s drive sent the game into extra-time.

Frank Lampard restored the lead from the spot after Michael Ballack had been felled, before Drogba prodded a third.

Ryan Babel’s 35-yarder prompted a tense finale, but Chelsea held on to seal a tie with Manchester United in Moscow.

It was an emotional night for Lampard, who was back in the starting line-up for the first time since the death of his mother six days earlier from pneumonia.
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A spectacular strike by Paul Scholes sent Manchester United into their first Champions League final for nine years on a night of Old Trafford tension.

Scholes rifled in a spectacular 25-yard effort after 14 minutes to beat Barcelona and set up an all-English clash with Chelsea or Liverpool.

Barcelona dominated possession for long periods, with Deco twice close and Thierry Henry wasting a late chance.

But United mounted a rearguard action to seal a date in Moscow on 21 May.

There was added poignancy and significance in the victory, coming 50 years after the Munich air crash.

And for Scholes, suspended for the 1999 final victory against Bayern Munich in Barcelona, it is a chance to make up for that bitter disappointment.
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Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty as Manchester United held Barcelona in a cagey Champions League semi-final, first leg at the Nou Camp.

Gabriel Milito needlessly threw his hands up to block a Ronaldo header in the box in only the second minute.

But Ronaldo wasted the opportunity by side-footing wide from the spot.

Barcelona dominated the game without creating much, although substitute Thierry Henry almost caught out United keeper Edwin van der Sar late on.

United will be rightly pleased with their defensive display, especially having lost Nemanja Vidic before the game to a stomach problem.

But they may live to regret Ronaldo’s early miss from the spot when the two sides meet again at Old Trafford next Tuesday.
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John Arne Riise’s injury-time own goal gave Chelsea the advantage in their Champions League semi-final.

Dirk Kuyt’s close-range finish three minutes before the interval looked to have secured Liverpool a slender lead.

And it took fine saves from Petr Cech to deny Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres as Liverpool threatened to put the tie out of Chelsea’s reach.

But Riise headed in Salomon Kalou’s cross five minutes into injury time to give Chelsea a priceless away goal.

It was an incredible finish to an absorbing match which leaves Chelsea as slight favourites to progress in next Wednesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.
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