It was Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 pm and everyone has had lunch already and back to work. But at Daniels O’Connell’s, the fans were just lining up to watch the European Champions League final between United Manchester and Chelsea. The two teams were making history. This is the first time in history that we have had two English teams playing each other in the finals.

If you like soccer, this is as close to the world cup final as it can get. The rivalry, the excitement and the anticipation are at peak. Add to that, a pint of Guinness, a shot of Irish Whisky and some good appetizers and you have no chance of going back to work. Nobody did anyways since the game ended a little after 5:30 pm.

It was fun to be surrounded by Irish, English, Greek, Mexican and many other ethnicities in one bar, all there to watch the same game.

It is bars and restaurants like Daniels O’Connell’s and a game like Soccer (Football) that bring all these different ethnicities together joined by one passion “Football”.

Back to the game…

In a game in which Manchester United dominated the first half, Chelsea dominated the second half and the extra-time period was fairly even, we should have all realized how the game would end.

Although Chelsea will feel hard done by and will point to Didier Drogba hitting the post and Frank Lampard hitting the underside of the bar, they should realize that Manchester United should have had the game sewn up in the first half. Twice Carlos Tevez was presented with great chances, the first of which was saved by Cech which gave Carrick a great chance on the follow up, but he too was foiled by Cech, and the second time Tevez missed the ball altogether when it looked easier to score.

United will also point to a chance created for Ryan Giggs whereby he was presented with an open goal with which he could celebrate scoring the winning goal in the champions league semi-final in his record breaking Manchester United performance. He mishit the shot and gave John Terry the chance to head clear.

It was a fine game of football between the best two teams in Europe and in the end, I believe justice was done as the best side throughout the entire season emerged triumphant.

It was fate that Cristiano Ronaldo should miss his penalty after such a fine season and likewise that John Terry, the very spirit of Chelsea, would miss his. Ryan Giggs duly scored with ease to put the pressure on Nicolas Anelka who continued his failure in a Chelsea shirt by having his shot saved by an ecstatic Van Der Sar who saved diving away to his right and sending the trophy to Old Trafford for the third time.

Congratulations to Manchester United, you thoroughly deserve the double

you have won.