UEFA Champions League Winners!

Flashback: 26th May 1999. I stared in disbelief at the television screen as my team, Manchester United, did the impossible by scoring two goals in injury time and winning the Champions League by coming back from being a goal down. I jumped for joy, albeit silently and restrained, for it was in the wee hours of the morning. I never thought I had another chance to savour such a sweet moment of triumph...

Now: 21st May 2008. It was '99 all over again. This time round had a different feel, as I was watching the Moscow final at a friend's house. An early goal from Ronaldo and a lucky goal from Chelsea could not separate both sides, yet I felt somehow Man United had fate on their side, and probably deserved to win too. I thought all was gone when it came to Chelsea's 5th penalty with the scores at 4-4... just like how I felt it was all gone when the linesman displayed the 3 minutes of injury time back at Barcelona with Man United 0-1 down.

Terry slipped and missed, Van der Sar saved the 7th penalty... and the job was completed. It was a second coming for me, having the chance to relive the joy of '99 and being able to witness Manchester United winning 2 of their 3 European victories! I celebrated along with them and revelled in their joy, even though I was thousands of mile away. I took great pleasure in watching the disappointed faces of money-faced Kenyon, Cole(s), Mikel, and how the arrogant faces of Ballack and Terry transformed to one of utter dejection. It was sweet victory, sweet revenge. If only their manager was still Mourinho, it would even have been sweeter.

It was indeed a special night for Manchester United and for myself.