Classy Barca outshine Manchester United to win the Champions League

Manchester United 0 - Barcelona 2 (Champions League Final, May 27, 2009) (Longer highlights here and extended highlights here.) (The opening ceremony can be seen here.) After Manchester United put in all the early running in Rome, Ronaldo striking the target with a rasping free-kick after two minutes before Ronaldo had two further chances in the opening ten minutes, it was Barca who snatched the lead with their first attack of the game. Iniesta carry the ball into the final third, played in Samuel Eto’o in the box, and the Cameroonian beat Vidic before firing past Van der Sar. Giggs sent a  free-kick over the bar as United looked for the leveller. (First half highlights here.) Thierry Henry was foiled by Van der Sar, before Xavi crashed a free-kick against the United post, as Barca came flying out the traps early in the second half. And in the 70th minute that Catalans bagged their second, Xavi picking out an unmarked Lionel Messi in the box and the Argentine rose high to head home.

Barcelona’s trophy and post match celebrations can be seen here.

***

England 2 - Bosnia 0 (European U19 Championship qualifiers, May 27, 2009) Danny Rose to set the Young Lions on their way with a terrific header, before Nile Ranger sealed the three points in the later stages with a second headed goal from a Victor Moses free-kick.

***

Japan 4 - Chile 0 (Kirin Cup, May 27, 2009) Shinji Okazaki put Japan ahead in the 20th minute when he capitalised on a rebound in the Chile box, and the Shimizu S-Pulse forward doubled the lead just four minutes later, collecting a through-ball from Nakazawa and beating Pinto with an angled shot. Yuki Abe put the game out of reach seven minutes after the break with a header off a Yasuhito Endo corner, Keisuke Honda adding the fourth in stoppage time to complete the rout.

***

Beitar Jerusalem 2 - Maccabi Haifa 1 (Israeli State Cup final, May 26, 2009) Christian Alvarez headed Beitar into the lead from an Idan Tal cross in the 19th minute and Aviram Barukhyan made it 2-nil seven minutes before halftime when he pounced on a fumble from Haifa keeper Nir Davidovich. Biram Kayal scored a consolation penalty for Haifa in the 89th minute, but it was too little, too late as Beitar retained the cup.

***

Columbus Crew 2 - San Jose Earthquakes 1 (MLS, May 27, 2009) After Ryan Johnson put the Quakes ahead with a first half header, The Crew rallied to claim all three points thanks to goals from Eddie Gaven and Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who scored 28 seconds into the second half.

***

Perspolis 0 - Bunyodkor 1 (Asian Champions League, May 27, 2009) He maybe ancient, but Rivaldo proved he can still score from 12 yards as he comfortably tucked home a penalty in the 41st minue. Bunyodkor progress to the quarter-finals.

***

Caracas 1 - Gremio 1 (Copa Libertadores quarter-final first-leg, May 27, 2009) The hosts needed just one minute to open the scoring as Camilo Cichero headed home a free-kick by Jose Manuel Rey. But before the break Caracas lost striker Emilio Renteria to injury and Gremio started to improve. Fabio Santos, with another header at the far post, levelled the match fifteen minutes before the final whistle.

Cruzeiro 2 - Sao Paulo 1 (Copa Libertadores quarter-final first-leg, May 27, 2009) Leonardo Silva opened the scoring for the hosts when he headed home a Kleber corner on the stroke of halftime, but Washington equalised for Sao Paulo shortly after the break. In the 65th minute a good combination between Ze Carlos and Magrao was capped off by Jonathan with a shot from the edge of the box.

***

Vasco da Gama 1 - Corinthians 1 (Copa do Brasil semi-final first-leg, May 27, 2009) With Ronaldo injured once again Dentinho was given a run out, and it was he who silenced the Maracana stadium with a cross shot to send Corinthians ahead. But in the second half Rodrigo Pimpao equalised after a being teed-up by Wellington.

Internacional 3 - Coritiba 1 (Copa do Brasil semi-final first-leg, May 27, 2009) Marcos Aurelio put the visitors ahead after 14 minutes, but seven minutes later Tyson pulled the Porto Alegre side level. In the second half Inter took control, with Andrezinho and substitute Alecsandro netting a goal apiece.