Manchester United has defeated Chelsea in a thrilling penalty shoot-out to clinch the European Champions League title.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Frank Lampard both notched first-half goals but the teams remained level at 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes and throughout extra-time, with 12 penalty shots needed to decide the contest.
Ronaldo had his penalty attempt saved as Chelsea took the upper hand before Blues captain John Terry sensationally slipped and sent his strike wide. United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar then made a superb save against Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka to win the game.
Remarkably, it is believed to have been the first penalty shoot-out Manchester United mentor Alex Ferguson has won as manager.
Ronaldo – fresh from leading United to the English Premier League title with a staggering 31 goals – gave his side the lead in the 26th minute when he met a terrific Wes Brown cross at the back post and headed past Petr Cech.
But Chelsea drew level just before half-time, with a deflected shot from Michael Essien sending Manchester goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar sprawling before Lampard followed up to hammer home the equaliser.
After United dominated the first half Chelsea closed down on Ronaldo in the second, beginning to gain the ascendancy with a rash of chances in and around the penalty box.
Dideir Drogba almost put the Blues in front when hit the post with a curling strike in the 78th minute, but nothing could split the teams in 90 minutes as the final went into extra-time.
Lampard came close again for Chelsea when his first-time left-foot shot crashed into the underside of the crossbar eight minutes into extra-time.
Players from both teams clashed in a flurry of shoves as exra-time drew to a close, with Drogba bizarrely sent off in the game’s final minute.
Both sides slotted their first two penalty attempts before Ronaldo turned from hero to villain, with Cech diving to his right to block the Portugese superstar’s shot.
Lampard, Owen Hargreaves, Ashley Cole and Nani all converted their attempts before Chelsea skipper John Terry stepped up to the spot with a chance to secure the title.
But Terry slipped and sent the ball wide, forcing the shoot-out into a tense sudden-death period.
This time it was van der Sar who became the star, making a superb dive to deny Anelka and send United fans into raptures.
