English football in mourning

After dominating the Champions League this season, and being hailed as the best football league in the world, English football was robbed of the ultimate prize. Manchester United were beaten in the Champions League final in Rome on Wednesday night. Below the winning team Barcelona celebrate with Samuel Eto'o after he scores the first goal against Manchester United. Photograph: MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images:



Manchester United dominated the first ten minutes of the game and Cristiano Ronaldo came very near to scoring off his magical free kick. In setting up another charge by Ronaldo, Michael Carrick lost the ball to Barcelona's Andres Iniesta who dodged past the United defense and found Samuel Eto'o unguarded. With the first goal in, Barcelona looked a changed side and dominated the game till half-time.

Coach Alex Fergusson then changed the United formation to 4-4-2 and put in Carlos Tevez to energize his offence, but Barcelona still dominated and came close to scoring. Thierry Henry kicked the ball into Van der Sar's legs while Xavi found the post with his free kick. Lionel Messi performed the finishing rites for Manchester United when he headed in the second goal, defeating the best team in the world and plunging English football into mourning.