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Arsenal?s imperious grip on European club football in the early years of the 21st Century will be remembered for decades, but one game that will stand out from the dozens of triumphs is the Master Cup Final of 2013.
Once again, the North London club had effortlessly breezed through to the finals of both the domestic and European cups, in a season that reached unparalleled levels of passion and flair. By this time Zinedine Zidane was at the peak of his powers, and done the unthinkable - he had replaced Ariel Ortega in the offensive midfield hole behind Thierry Henry and Ronaldo, who won his place back from Michael Owen after several seasons on the sidelines. Zidane reached double figures with ease, and in one particular League encounter against Liverpool he was sublime; pirouetting around defenders for fun he scored both goals in a 2-0 victory, the second a fabulous half volley that would go on to win goal of the season. Zidane?s talent was matched by Ronaldo?s determination - whereas Owen had been a close counters striker of subtlety and finesse, Ronaldo preferred to blast the ball into the back of the net but his heavy touch and unwillingness to beat defenders saw him go through a run of half a dozen lifeless, goalless games. However, by the time of these final stages Ronaldo was back on form, returning with a tap-in to crown a 4-0 victory over West Ham and going on to score a hat-trick at home against Manchester United.
And so, alongside the ever-dangerous Thierry Henry the midfield maestro and Brazilian behemoth prepared to play for another Master Cup against Leeds - of course, this was no simple match-up. Indeed, Arsenal and Leeds had met twice in that same month, in the semis of the European Cup. The second leg saw a convincing 2-0 win from Arsenal at Elland Road, but the first game was a far more tense and exciting affair. A Kewell header inside ten minutes saw Arsenal lead for the entirety of the match; well, until the 90 minute mark that is. Leeds refused to stop knocking at Arsenal?s defensive door and a low cross outfoxed both Nesta and Stam, which allowed Viduka to arrow the ball past the flat-footed Buffon. Arsenal were staring down the barrel of a draw and an away goal to the opposition - but Ronaldo and Henry took it upon themselves to right the wrong, and virtually from kick-off forced a corner after a smart save from Martyn. The seconds ticked by, and as Figo swung the ball in the referee checked his watch again, only for Kewell to rise majestically in the middle, and nod it past the goalkeeper and into the net. 2-1, but only just.
The arena was throbbing, and the cheers that erupted as Arsenal went 1-0 up thanks to a turn and strike from Ronaldo had the foundations shaking. However, the Gunners never looked like adding to their lead and Leeds begun to get the ball down and play. As the second half wore on the Yorkshire club got closer and close, before indecision from Nesta allowed Magallanes to get a shot away. Buffon could save with his legs once, but he couldn?t save again as the striker slotted home the rebound. Things went from bad to worse when minutes later a through ball to Viduka gave him enough space to guide the ball underneath Nesta?s sliding tackle and into the corner of the net to give Leeds a 2-1 lead. The clock runs down to 88 minutes when Kewell recieves it wide left, desperate for some movement. He flicks it forward to Zidane, who traps the ball and then nudges it forwards into the penalty box; but wait...Henry's run between two defenders! He's onside! Time slows and the crowd knows that if he misses, it's all over. Henry winds back, but sees the keeper's position. He readjusts, feints to shoot and the keeper dives down. The Frenchman then deftly chips it and the ball clears Martyn by maybe six inches, arching over and into the net. The crowd collapses with relief, but as the final whistle blows so do Ronaldo and Henry with exhaustion. Smith and Owen are brought on for the Silver Goal period, but neither can so much as pass the ball without being clattered by a full-back. Inevitably, penalties beckon.
Zidane steps up first and taps it down the middle, but devastatingly Martyn?s dive was short enough to see him catch the tame effort! The 9 penalties that followed were all immaculate, neither goalkeeper coming close to saving a second, and so Leeds United finally ended Arsenal?s stranglehold on the Master Cup. Down, dejected, and in utter disbelief the Arsenal players trudged off the field to the showers. Next week saw the European Cup final. How would the team react to such disappointment - There was only one way to find out - ?Go to next week?.
============== ================= ===============
Well done if you managed to read all that, I never realised the amount of drama I'd just undergone. Feel free to add your own.
Once again, the North London club had effortlessly breezed through to the finals of both the domestic and European cups, in a season that reached unparalleled levels of passion and flair. By this time Zinedine Zidane was at the peak of his powers, and done the unthinkable - he had replaced Ariel Ortega in the offensive midfield hole behind Thierry Henry and Ronaldo, who won his place back from Michael Owen after several seasons on the sidelines. Zidane reached double figures with ease, and in one particular League encounter against Liverpool he was sublime; pirouetting around defenders for fun he scored both goals in a 2-0 victory, the second a fabulous half volley that would go on to win goal of the season. Zidane?s talent was matched by Ronaldo?s determination - whereas Owen had been a close counters striker of subtlety and finesse, Ronaldo preferred to blast the ball into the back of the net but his heavy touch and unwillingness to beat defenders saw him go through a run of half a dozen lifeless, goalless games. However, by the time of these final stages Ronaldo was back on form, returning with a tap-in to crown a 4-0 victory over West Ham and going on to score a hat-trick at home against Manchester United.
And so, alongside the ever-dangerous Thierry Henry the midfield maestro and Brazilian behemoth prepared to play for another Master Cup against Leeds - of course, this was no simple match-up. Indeed, Arsenal and Leeds had met twice in that same month, in the semis of the European Cup. The second leg saw a convincing 2-0 win from Arsenal at Elland Road, but the first game was a far more tense and exciting affair. A Kewell header inside ten minutes saw Arsenal lead for the entirety of the match; well, until the 90 minute mark that is. Leeds refused to stop knocking at Arsenal?s defensive door and a low cross outfoxed both Nesta and Stam, which allowed Viduka to arrow the ball past the flat-footed Buffon. Arsenal were staring down the barrel of a draw and an away goal to the opposition - but Ronaldo and Henry took it upon themselves to right the wrong, and virtually from kick-off forced a corner after a smart save from Martyn. The seconds ticked by, and as Figo swung the ball in the referee checked his watch again, only for Kewell to rise majestically in the middle, and nod it past the goalkeeper and into the net. 2-1, but only just.
The arena was throbbing, and the cheers that erupted as Arsenal went 1-0 up thanks to a turn and strike from Ronaldo had the foundations shaking. However, the Gunners never looked like adding to their lead and Leeds begun to get the ball down and play. As the second half wore on the Yorkshire club got closer and close, before indecision from Nesta allowed Magallanes to get a shot away. Buffon could save with his legs once, but he couldn?t save again as the striker slotted home the rebound. Things went from bad to worse when minutes later a through ball to Viduka gave him enough space to guide the ball underneath Nesta?s sliding tackle and into the corner of the net to give Leeds a 2-1 lead. The clock runs down to 88 minutes when Kewell recieves it wide left, desperate for some movement. He flicks it forward to Zidane, who traps the ball and then nudges it forwards into the penalty box; but wait...Henry's run between two defenders! He's onside! Time slows and the crowd knows that if he misses, it's all over. Henry winds back, but sees the keeper's position. He readjusts, feints to shoot and the keeper dives down. The Frenchman then deftly chips it and the ball clears Martyn by maybe six inches, arching over and into the net. The crowd collapses with relief, but as the final whistle blows so do Ronaldo and Henry with exhaustion. Smith and Owen are brought on for the Silver Goal period, but neither can so much as pass the ball without being clattered by a full-back. Inevitably, penalties beckon.
Zidane steps up first and taps it down the middle, but devastatingly Martyn?s dive was short enough to see him catch the tame effort! The 9 penalties that followed were all immaculate, neither goalkeeper coming close to saving a second, and so Leeds United finally ended Arsenal?s stranglehold on the Master Cup. Down, dejected, and in utter disbelief the Arsenal players trudged off the field to the showers. Next week saw the European Cup final. How would the team react to such disappointment - There was only one way to find out - ?Go to next week?.
============== ================= ===============
Well done if you managed to read all that, I never realised the amount of drama I'd just undergone. Feel free to add your own.
There have been no replies to this thread yet.
Arsenal?s imperious grip on European club football in the early years of the 21st Century will be remembered for decades, but one game that will stand out from the dozens of triumphs is the Master Cup Final of 2013.
Once again, the North London club had effortlessly breezed through to the finals of both the domestic and European cups, in a season that reached unparalleled levels of passion and flair. By this time Zinedine Zidane was at the peak of his powers, and done the unthinkable - he had replaced Ariel Ortega in the offensive midfield hole behind Thierry Henry and Ronaldo, who won his place back from Michael Owen after several seasons on the sidelines. Zidane reached double figures with ease, and in one particular League encounter against Liverpool he was sublime; pirouetting around defenders for fun he scored both goals in a 2-0 victory, the second a fabulous half volley that would go on to win goal of the season. Zidane?s talent was matched by Ronaldo?s determination - whereas Owen had been a close counters striker of subtlety and finesse, Ronaldo preferred to blast the ball into the back of the net but his heavy touch and unwillingness to beat defenders saw him go through a run of half a dozen lifeless, goalless games. However, by the time of these final stages Ronaldo was back on form, returning with a tap-in to crown a 4-0 victory over West Ham and going on to score a hat-trick at home against Manchester United.
And so, alongside the ever-dangerous Thierry Henry the midfield maestro and Brazilian behemoth prepared to play for another Master Cup against Leeds - of course, this was no simple match-up. Indeed, Arsenal and Leeds had met twice in that same month, in the semis of the European Cup. The second leg saw a convincing 2-0 win from Arsenal at Elland Road, but the first game was a far more tense and exciting affair. A Kewell header inside ten minutes saw Arsenal lead for the entirety of the match; well, until the 90 minute mark that is. Leeds refused to stop knocking at Arsenal?s defensive door and a low cross outfoxed both Nesta and Stam, which allowed Viduka to arrow the ball past the flat-footed Buffon. Arsenal were staring down the barrel of a draw and an away goal to the opposition - but Ronaldo and Henry took it upon themselves to right the wrong, and virtually from kick-off forced a corner after a smart save from Martyn. The seconds ticked by, and as Figo swung the ball in the referee checked his watch again, only for Kewell to rise majestically in the middle, and nod it past the goalkeeper and into the net. 2-1, but only just.
The arena was throbbing, and the cheers that erupted as Arsenal went 1-0 up thanks to a turn and strike from Ronaldo had the foundations shaking. However, the Gunners never looked like adding to their lead and Leeds begun to get the ball down and play. As the second half wore on the Yorkshire club got closer and close, before indecision from Nesta allowed Magallanes to get a shot away. Buffon could save with his legs once, but he couldn?t save again as the striker slotted home the rebound. Things went from bad to worse when minutes later a through ball to Viduka gave him enough space to guide the ball underneath Nesta?s sliding tackle and into the corner of the net to give Leeds a 2-1 lead. The clock runs down to 88 minutes when Kewell recieves it wide left, desperate for some movement. He flicks it forward to Zidane, who traps the ball and then nudges it forwards into the penalty box; but wait...Henry's run between two defenders! He's onside! Time slows and the crowd knows that if he misses, it's all over. Henry winds back, but sees the keeper's position. He readjusts, feints to shoot and the keeper dives down. The Frenchman then deftly chips it and the ball clears Martyn by maybe six inches, arching over and into the net. The crowd collapses with relief, but as the final whistle blows so do Ronaldo and Henry with exhaustion. Smith and Owen are brought on for the Silver Goal period, but neither can so much as pass the ball without being clattered by a full-back. Inevitably, penalties beckon.
Zidane steps up first and taps it down the middle, but devastatingly Martyn?s dive was short enough to see him catch the tame effort! The 9 penalties that followed were all immaculate, neither goalkeeper coming close to saving a second, and so Leeds United finally ended Arsenal?s stranglehold on the Master Cup. Down, dejected, and in utter disbelief the Arsenal players trudged off the field to the showers. Next week saw the European Cup final. How would the team react to such disappointment - There was only one way to find out - ?Go to next week?.
============== ================= ===============
Well done if you managed to read all that, I never realised the amount of drama I'd just undergone. Feel free to add your own.
Once again, the North London club had effortlessly breezed through to the finals of both the domestic and European cups, in a season that reached unparalleled levels of passion and flair. By this time Zinedine Zidane was at the peak of his powers, and done the unthinkable - he had replaced Ariel Ortega in the offensive midfield hole behind Thierry Henry and Ronaldo, who won his place back from Michael Owen after several seasons on the sidelines. Zidane reached double figures with ease, and in one particular League encounter against Liverpool he was sublime; pirouetting around defenders for fun he scored both goals in a 2-0 victory, the second a fabulous half volley that would go on to win goal of the season. Zidane?s talent was matched by Ronaldo?s determination - whereas Owen had been a close counters striker of subtlety and finesse, Ronaldo preferred to blast the ball into the back of the net but his heavy touch and unwillingness to beat defenders saw him go through a run of half a dozen lifeless, goalless games. However, by the time of these final stages Ronaldo was back on form, returning with a tap-in to crown a 4-0 victory over West Ham and going on to score a hat-trick at home against Manchester United.
And so, alongside the ever-dangerous Thierry Henry the midfield maestro and Brazilian behemoth prepared to play for another Master Cup against Leeds - of course, this was no simple match-up. Indeed, Arsenal and Leeds had met twice in that same month, in the semis of the European Cup. The second leg saw a convincing 2-0 win from Arsenal at Elland Road, but the first game was a far more tense and exciting affair. A Kewell header inside ten minutes saw Arsenal lead for the entirety of the match; well, until the 90 minute mark that is. Leeds refused to stop knocking at Arsenal?s defensive door and a low cross outfoxed both Nesta and Stam, which allowed Viduka to arrow the ball past the flat-footed Buffon. Arsenal were staring down the barrel of a draw and an away goal to the opposition - but Ronaldo and Henry took it upon themselves to right the wrong, and virtually from kick-off forced a corner after a smart save from Martyn. The seconds ticked by, and as Figo swung the ball in the referee checked his watch again, only for Kewell to rise majestically in the middle, and nod it past the goalkeeper and into the net. 2-1, but only just.
The arena was throbbing, and the cheers that erupted as Arsenal went 1-0 up thanks to a turn and strike from Ronaldo had the foundations shaking. However, the Gunners never looked like adding to their lead and Leeds begun to get the ball down and play. As the second half wore on the Yorkshire club got closer and close, before indecision from Nesta allowed Magallanes to get a shot away. Buffon could save with his legs once, but he couldn?t save again as the striker slotted home the rebound. Things went from bad to worse when minutes later a through ball to Viduka gave him enough space to guide the ball underneath Nesta?s sliding tackle and into the corner of the net to give Leeds a 2-1 lead. The clock runs down to 88 minutes when Kewell recieves it wide left, desperate for some movement. He flicks it forward to Zidane, who traps the ball and then nudges it forwards into the penalty box; but wait...Henry's run between two defenders! He's onside! Time slows and the crowd knows that if he misses, it's all over. Henry winds back, but sees the keeper's position. He readjusts, feints to shoot and the keeper dives down. The Frenchman then deftly chips it and the ball clears Martyn by maybe six inches, arching over and into the net. The crowd collapses with relief, but as the final whistle blows so do Ronaldo and Henry with exhaustion. Smith and Owen are brought on for the Silver Goal period, but neither can so much as pass the ball without being clattered by a full-back. Inevitably, penalties beckon.
Zidane steps up first and taps it down the middle, but devastatingly Martyn?s dive was short enough to see him catch the tame effort! The 9 penalties that followed were all immaculate, neither goalkeeper coming close to saving a second, and so Leeds United finally ended Arsenal?s stranglehold on the Master Cup. Down, dejected, and in utter disbelief the Arsenal players trudged off the field to the showers. Next week saw the European Cup final. How would the team react to such disappointment - There was only one way to find out - ?Go to next week?.
============== ================= ===============
Well done if you managed to read all that, I never realised the amount of drama I'd just undergone. Feel free to add your own.