In European soccer this week, Manchester United closed out its quarterfinal tie against Roma for the second year in a row in the Champions League, progressing on a 3-0 aggregate score.
Roma, after suffering a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester United a week before, had a chance to make it interesting with a penalty in the 30th minute, but midfielder Daniele De Rossi fired his attempt over the crossbar. Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez scored in the 70th minute to put the tie beyond all doubt.
English Premier League teams did not all progress in the Champions League, however, as Arsenal met defeat at the hands of Liverpool on a 5-3 aggregate score line. Arsenal only needed the tie to advance to the next round.
After a scintillating run by England international Theo Walcott and routine finish by forward Emmanuel Adebayor, the team seemed poised to move forward.
However, Arsenal defender Kolo Toure brought down Liverpool forward Ryan Babel in the 84th minute, forcing a penalty kick. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard calmly converted the penalty to break the tie, and after a lead-padding goal in injury time, Liverpool was on its way to the semi-finals.
In the other quarterfinal ties, Barcelona squeezed out Schalke of the German Bundesliga, the premier German league, on a 2-0 overall score after a 1-0 victory at Barcelona's Nou Camp. Barca came away with a vital away goal in the first half against Schalke, and added a second goal from Yaya Toure to move on to the semi finals.
Chelsea, after a scary 2-1 result in the first half, shut down Fenerbahce of the Turkish Super League at home 2-0 to move to the semi-finals on a 3-2 aggregate score.
Underdog Fenerbahce's incredible run at the loathed Chelsea Blues in the first Champions League match put everyone on its side, but in the end, Chelsea's overpaid soccer players lived up to their paychecks enough to progress towards the European title.
2008 Woodie Awards
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