Video Highlights: Manchester United Vs Tottenham, 2- 0, 1/12/09

Manchester United had knocked Tottenham out in the Carling Cup quarter finals. Darren Gibson had once again proved his worth when being called upon.

Video: Manuel Pellegrini , Hang on to your seat!

Manuel Pellegrini missed his chair at the Emirates..

But who can blame him..

They were facing an in-form Gunners team with Theo Walcott particularly impressive on the right.

Villareal had been outplayed by Arsenal all day and had to settle for a 3-0 loss to Arsenal.

Video Report Porto Vs Manchester United 1-0

Cristiano Ronaldo scored an absolute screamer from 40 yards in the 6th minute to book a semi finals draw for Manchester United against Arsenal. It is hard to believe that this is the first time after 13 attempts that an english side manage a win in Porto!


Ronaldo said: ""It is the best I have scored."It was a fantastic strike and I can't wait to see it again on DVD. I am very happy with it."

Ronaldo's goal is brilliant. I have never seen a ball struck with so much venom from 40 yards away..

Chelsea, Liverpool Champions League Q4 Result

The match between Liverpool and Chelsea ended 4-4. Which means Chelsea has eliminated Liverpool and is progressing to the Champions League Semi finals with a superior 7-5 aggregate score.

Both sides were poor in defense, resulting in many goals conceded. With the kind of errors seen, you feel that neither sides should progress to the next stage of the competition...

I hope for this much entertainment but more quality from Chelsea in the semi finals.

Scoring Summary
Chelsea Liverpool
Alex (57) Fabio Aurelio (19)
Didier Drogba (51) Xabi Alonso (pen 28)
Frank Lampard (76) Lucas (81)
Frank Lampard (89) Dirk Kuyt (82)

Zonal Marking For Liverpool In Return Leg?

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez is sticking to zonal marking system for their Champions League Quarter Finals return leg against Chelsea.

In the first leg against Liverpool, Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea scored 2 thumping headers. Fans fueled by anger questioned the wisdom of using zonal marking in Liverpool's defensive play at set-pieces.

Benitez said: "We feel we can handle Chelsea in the air. There was a lot of talk last week about our zonal marking system but all the top clubs have conceded about the same from set-pieces this season, it is not just the system that matters.

We are happy with the way we defend, it is all about the quality of players in the end.

"Zonal marking has been good for us in the past, and it will be good for the future."

Why is Rafael Benitez insistent on using zonal marking system? Is he sticking to it because he is too proud to admit his tactical mistake, Or is it the better choice?

Zonal marking is a defensive strategy used in soccer where defenders cover an area of the pitch rather than marking a specific player. The defender only marks an opponent if they move into their zone. It means unless the defender is telepathic, he will always be one touch behind the opponent.

I personally feel man to man marking will be a better choice for this match. Chelsea have shown that they perfectly capable of countering Liverpool's zonal marking system.

Branislav Ivanovic & Petr Cech Interview

This is the post match interview after the Champions League quarter finals match at Anfield. Branislav Ivanovic seemed very camera shy and uneasy before the camera.

He-Ivanovic, is a very low profile player.. If you put 'Ivanovic' in google, it is Ana Ivanovic that appears at the top..

It basically means this guy is boring with no gossips and scandals...

Liverpool 1 Chelsea 3 in Quarter Finals CL

Chelsea clawed back from an early Fernando Torres goal in the Champion's League quarter-final first leg at Anfield to claim a 3-1 victory. Two goals from Branislav Ivanovic and one from Didier Drogba settled the match.

Ivanovic- the Serbian defender from Chelsea - 2 goals had been the result of Hiddink exploiting the weakness of Liverpool's zonal marking system at set-pieces. The system meant that the Liverpool defenders were marking spaces and not conducting man to man marking. That gave Ivanovic a free run at every corner and he took full advantage with two similar headers past Jose Reina.


Hiddink says "If you feel that the opponent can be hurt in some parts of their team it would be stupid not to go for that. They have zonal defence at corners and there is no marking. We talked about that.

"We have players who are tall and are very brave going into the area. It was true we got a lot of benefit in the air from set pieces.

"You have to analyse where the weapons are with Liverpool and it is not so difficult to see it is Gerrard and Torres. You have to disarm them and Essien was the man who was key for this."

"To be honest to play Liverpool at Anfield is always a hard job, so at the end we were very happy with this result. It is unexpected to be honest but I think well deserved," he said.

"The next game we have to be very concentrated. Don't think we will take this very lightly because Liverpool have proved in the past they can surprise."

It was a tactical mistake by Benitez which should have been rectified at half time. To concede 2 similar goals to the same person in a similar situation is criminal..

Adebayor With An Outrageous Goal

Adebayor scores an outrageous bicycle kick against Villareal. The Champions League match between Arsenal and Villareal last night ended 1-1.

The Togolese controlled the ball with his chest and with zero hesitation, performed an acrobatic bicycle kick. The flight of the ball stunned Diego Lopez who looked helpless as the ball bulged the net.

Manchester United 2 Porto 2 In Quarter Finals

A video of a very exciting match that could have gone either way. A fair result for a very high intensity match.

Manchester United needs to do better in the away leg having handed Porto an away goal advantage.