CL final 2006: they're only dreams if you wake up

By Emerald Gao
Written on May 17, 2006

This year's Champions League final was certainly dramatic, although maybe not all lightning and thunder, as Tommy Smythe sputtered on ESPN. "Mad" Jens Lehmann became the first footballer to ever be sent off in a Champions League final, and in the end, his moment of lunacy cost his team. Despite Sol Campbell's goal, despite everything, all Barcelona needed to do was keep pressuring and be patient, and their work paid off in the end.

I have to admit, I couldn't really get excited about this match at first. It seemed so lopsided, too much like the situation last year, with the underdog poised to snatch everything after a miraculous run in Europe, despite sagging league performances. At first, Arsenal played the underdog role wonderfully, sparking to life immediately and creating the first good chances of the game.

Can refereeing decisions be both cruel and fair? Just before 20 minutes, Eto'o poked the ball past Jens Lehmann. The keeper put out one clumsy hand and sent Eto'o tumbling. Terje Hauge -- who refereed the now-infamous Chelsea vs. Barcelona Part Deux match -- had no choice but to pull out the red card, and the rules are clear. Since Lehmann was the last man, he deserved to go. Some commentators apparently whinged about the "spectacle" of the game being ruined, but then again, there's no sentimentality clause in the rulebook, and in the end, Hauge made the right decision.

Eboue dragged his cleat down Ronaldinho's leg not five minutes later, and the fear was there -- that Arsenal would self-destruct after this turn of fate. However, after Hauge awarded him a yellow card, Henry had words with the defender, and things seemed to calm down. True to the principle of "it's harder to score against 10 men than against 11," the Arsenal defense locked down even tighter and set their attacking players off on the counter. Hauge then generously awarded Arsenal with an undeserved free kick after Eboue went down under no contact from Puyol.

It was just before the 40 minute mark, and perhaps Barcelona got sloppy, but Henry's free kick made solid contact with Sol Campbell's head, and the defender directed the ball well into the far side of Valdes's net. Barcelona nearly equalized within minutes through Eto'o, who spun past Campbell and nearly scooped his shot over Almunia (who replaced Lehmann), only for an errant arm from the goalkeeper to deflect the ball onto the post. Immense.

This sent the fans and the pundits into a frenzy, but the game had not changed. Barcelona were more than capable of banging in one goal within 45 minutes, especially against a quickly tiring Arsenal defense. But Arsenal had more up their sleeve; they managed to hold on for half an hour more, and Henry and Ljungberg became a two man attacking machine, leaving both Marquez and Puyol on their behinds several times. (I doubt the pitch, which was slippery to begin with, but worsened in the second half with the downpour, really helped the defenders, but the Arsenal players' individual skill cannot be denied.)

Indeed, it was Arsenal who caught Barcelona on the break several times in the second half, and Henry who nearly put Arsenal two goals ahead. But Valdes let nothing past him (safe hands for once!, some Barcelona fans sighed with relief), and the danger was averted. Barcelona resumed their constant but somewhat ineffectual pressure, and Arsenal resumed their defending.

Just as Barcelona seemed to be running out of ideas, however, Frank Rijkaard made two perfect substitutes who would rescue the game for him. At halftime, he had replaced defensive midfielder Sylvinho with the more attack-minded Iniesta, and the little man had been providing a steady stream of passes up to Eto'o, Ronaldinho, and Giuly. After an hour, Larsson replaced Van Bommel, and ten minutes later, the meandering Belletti came on for Oleguer, who had struggled all game against Henry. All three choices were bold moves, but true to the system that Rijkaard has built at Barcelona, and they worked like a charm.

Conversely, Arsene Wenger's substitutions came too late, and his choices might have condemed his team to defeat. Henry and Ljungberg were left increasingly stranded upfield, and more than once, Henry implored Wenger on the touchline to provide him with more assistance. By the time Antonio Reyes came on to replace Hleb, however, Barcelona had already taken the lead and time was running out fast. Hleb probably also should have come off ahead of Fabregas, who generally holds possession better. With Fabregas already off and an extra Arsenal defender on the pitch, Barcelona's strong midfield were allowed to run rampant, which they did gladly.

With a sublime show of skill, Larsson set up Eto'o for Barcelona's equalizer. The ball had come through the left, and Larsson's deft flick set Eto'o charging at the goal. Quickly switching the ball to his preferred right foot, the Cameroonian striker slid the ball neatly in between the keeper and the far post.

Four minutes later, it was Belletti who was on the end of Larsson's magical touch. The Swede cut inside Ashley Cole and sent a simple pass rolling into Belletti's path. The defender's strong shot ricocched off the inside of Almunia's leg and into the roof of the net.

The dam had finally been broken, and Arsenal supporters' hearts were crushed by waves of red and blue. All Barcelona had to do now was play out the 10 remaining minutes, which they did assuredly (an adjective that could not be used to describe them in the first half). The match ended tamely, without any last-minute desperate pushes from Arsenal, and Barcelona lifted the trophy, which no one can deny they deserve, after a hugely successful season in both domestic and European competition. And Arsenal? They will be left wondering if it could have been so much different, had Jens Lehmann not caught Eto'o on the ankle in the 18th minute. For nearly an hour, though, Arsenal kept the dream alive.

Back to article index