Saturday Soccer Spotlight: Lucky #19

This was the weekend for Manchester United to set a record.  Needing just one point in their last 2 games, they set out to get that point today so that they can rest their first team in preparation for the Champions League Final.  When I saw the line-up I thought, "Poor Blackburn, they are going to get crushed.  This was an attacking minded line-up picked to win, not just get a point.  And Manchester was poised to take all 3 points and celebrate.  Someone forgot to tell Balckburn...

Brett Emerton of Blackburn looked to have spoiled the party in the 20th minute.  United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak (getting the start instead of 40-year-old Edwin van der Sar) was having a terrible game.  Botched clearances and miscommunications led to several nervy for United, and it culminated in Kuszczak failing to get a good hand on a chipped shot that eventually fell to a another Blackburn player who fed Emerton for a goal.  Only Arsenal manages to maintain 75% plus possession and give up a goal, and it looked like United, while they were threatening, didn't have the magic touch.

But anyone who has watched Manchester United this season knows not to panic when they get behind.  They play better from behind than any other team in the league.  That's not to say their weren't a lot of nervous faces in the Manchester section of the crowd, and more goalkeeper problems just added to the tension.  But United weren't going to be denied, and once again Javier Hernandez came up with the big play. 

Giggs slotted in a perfect pass to split the defenders just outside the 18-yard box, and despite its perfection it was a very difficult ball for the Mexican to control.  But he got the touch he needed to keep it slightly away from the goalie, and one more touch as the goalie slid in to take out his legs.  After some deliberation among the sideline judge and the referee, the penalty was given, and Rooney calmly walked to the penalty spot and hammered it home into the left corner.  And from that point on it became the most boring game I've seen in a long time.  Both teams were happy with their point as Blackburn look to have secured a spot above the relegation zone, and Manchester secured their 19th title. 

Let the parties begin!  Manchester United is once again champion of English Football.  The 4th time in the last 5 years, and the 19th overall to become the most successful team in the history of English Football.

--On a side note, I think the penalty was weak.  By the rulebook it is a penalty; however, I think way too many penalties like this are given in soccer.  Hernandez's last touch away from the goalie was going straight out of bounds, and he had no chance to get it under control and set up a goal or score himself even if the goalie hadn't hit him.  So by the rules it's a penalty because the goalie did make contact after the ball was gone, but I think that rule need to be reviewed.  Maybe an indirect kick from that spot would be better...?