Manchester United beat Chelsea in a historic first-ever all-English Champions League final, on this day in 2008.
For the first time in history, two Premier League teams contested club football’s biggest game.
Manchester United and Chelsea had gone head-to-head domestically all season, with the former beating the Blues to the Premier League title by just two points. Just over a week later, the teams met in Moscow to decide the Champions League.
For Chelsea, it was a maiden appearance in the Champions League final, following semi-final heartbreak in 2004, 2005, and 2007. United returned to the Champions League final for the first time in nine years, since beating Bayern Munich to complete the treble in 1998/99.
A predictably tight contest ensued, with Cristiano Ronaldo rising to head Manchester United ahead after 26 minutes, before Frank Lampard levelled for Chelsea before half-time.
Unable to be separated, the final went to extra time, a period that saw Didier Drogba sent off for violent conduct after slapping Nemanja Vidic. The Ivorian became only the second player in history to be sent off in a European Cup final.
Penalties decided the final at a rain-soaked Luzhniki Stadium. When Ronaldo saw his spot-kick saved by Petr Cech, Chelsea captain John Terry had the chance to win it. The centre-back slipped on contact and saw his effort hit the post, taking the shootout to sudden death.
Nicolas Anelka’s effort was saved by Edwin van der Sar, sealing Manchester United’s success and the club’s third European triumph.
The win helped propel Cristiano Ronaldo to the first of his five Ballon d’Or wins. Ronaldo’s opener in the final was his 42nd goal of the season in all competitions, a campaign that saw him shine as the world’s finest footballer.
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