There was still a chance for Liverpool to make it to their 3rd Champions league final in the last four years. But after 90 minutes, Liverpool and Chelsea were deadlocked 2-2 aggregate, with both teams scoring one away goal. They had to play an extra 30 minutes right then and there to break the tie. Chelsea scored two goals early in extra time, and with 3 ½ minutes left, Babel scored a goal. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to match Chelsea’s other goal in extra time and as a result, Liverpool are out. What makes it even more awful is that Liverpool should’ve been given a penalty in extra time but the referee changed his mind. If Liverpool scored that one extra goal, they would have gone through on the away goals rule. But they didn’t. Damn. (And watching all those stupid replays really hurts! LOL)
I’m not really sure who to root for now in the Champions League final. Man Utd beat Barcelona to set up an all English Champions League final. I really don’t like Man Utd, but then I don’t really want to root for the team that beat Liverpool. I guess it doesn’t really matter to me now.
At least Liverpool are almost ascertained of another shot for Champions League glory as they have locked 4th place in the English Premiership (remaining ahead of Merseyside rivals Everton, thank God).
*****
Ever since Michael Owen left Liverpool, his career has kinda gone downhill. He had a brief stint in Real Madrid where he did have moderate success (scoring quite a few goals in the few games he played in, and having a very good goals-to-minutes-played ratio). After Real let him go, he ended up in Newcastle United. But even there he hasn’t been able to play a lot – he’s been sidelined so often in the last few years due to injury.
So I’m glad that he has scored 11 goals this season. And in fact scored a double for Newcastle a couple of weekends ago. Not bad. I just really wish he could have an injury-free season. I’m pretty sure he still has a lot of great years left in him if he can only play a full season.
*****
It’s not very common for both the #1 and #2 players in tennis to be unable to win a title in three months. But that’s exactly what happened at the start of this year. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been undeniably the two most dominant players in the last few years – with Federer being #1 for the last four years and Nadal being #2 for the last three years straight. But neither of them won a title from January to March. And it’s not like neither of them were playing.
The titleless streaks ended this month. Federer thumped a clearly overmatched draw in Estoril for his first title this year. He could’ve won his second shortly after that, but Nadal reestablished himself as a favorite for the French Open title this year by beating Federer in the final of Monte Carlo and then solidifying his status as the best tennis player on clay right now by winning his 2nd title of the year on the red clay of Barcelona. Considering he's had a lackluster year up until the last couple of weeks, the fact that he's dropped only one set in his last ten matches has re-established Nadal as a favorite to win the French Open title this year.
*****
Even women’s tennis has been a bit strange this year. Sharapova had a very lackluster 2007 and few could’ve predicted her to win her 3rd Grand Slam title in Australia this year. But that’s exactly what she did. And Justine Henin, who was the most consistent woman on tour last year, seems to have lost the consistency and defensive ability this year, not having won a title yet either. And then Serena Williams, who seemed so out of it early this year, goes on an amazing tear, winning three titles in a row, beating Henin with an embarrassing score of 6-0 6-2.
With the clay court season coming though, Justine may once again find her form in the same way that Nadal has. Both Serena and Maria are not very good on European clay so their recent successes may be slowed down by the red dirt. Both Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova, who have been finalists in Roland Garros, have both been playing well in the last couple of months and may have a shot at the title.
So as has been the case in the last few years, I still have no clue which woman will take home the French Open title this year.
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