Who ruined the Dream Final?

[beautifulgamer]

People are saying a referee's decision ruined the dream final, that the referee could have done something different to not have Arsenal go down to ten men in yesterday's Champions League final.

Yes it would have been better if Lehman was in but it was a clear red. The real call should have been advantage > goal > red. The mistake was all Lehman's and he admitted it later. He ruined the "dream final" with a split second decision.

Unfortuntately ESPN's anlysis spent so much time discussing the issuing of the red that they didn't show enough of what led to the red: a patented Ronaldinho through ball that sliced open the Arsenal defense and left Eto'o all alone. Lehman is experienced enough. Once committed, he should have conceded the goal, not fouled and stayed in the game. So, in this sense, a Ronaldinho pass also ruined the "dream final". And that's football. It's not always a "dream". It's not perfect. Unexpected things happen. And that's the way it should be...

[Madrid_1902]

The sending off made it a bad final but I honestly think that if Arsenal had gone 1-0 even with 11 players they would have struggled even more. That is what Barca have done to teams throughout the entire season, score early and finnish them on the counter. Arsenal would have had to start commiting players forward and when players like Deco, Ronaldinho and Eto'o start runing at you on the counter then you are in trouble. The best example is the 2 Real Madrid games this season. Barca destroyed as at the Bernabeu scoring every one of their goals on the counter as we commited players forward. When we played at Camp Nou we went 1-0 but just defended and took our chances or chance I should say on the counter.

Barcelona are the best side in Europe and just keeping the ball. They frustrate so many teams time after time and when the frustration builds they carve you open. Irrespective of the motto that "anything can happen in a cup final" I just knew Barca were going to win as soon as they scored their second.

It's hard to say who ruined the game but if anything it has to be Lehmann. He commited the foul that according to the rule book constitutes as a straight red. The referee could have actually played advantage, let Barca score then send off Lehmann.

[beautifulgamer]

Barcelona are the best side in Europe and just keeping the ball. They frustrate so many teams time after time and when the frustration builds they carve you open.

Good analysis. Yes, you just have that sense with Barcelona that something will eventually happen. The mark of a great team. Real had that not long ago.

Personally, I hate to say that anyone "ruined" the final. I am actually commenting on a term that others have been using. What interests me is who "effected" the final because really nothing outlandish happened in the game. And for me, it was Ronaldinho who changed the game. How he managed to get into possession of the ball in such a sweet spot of the midfield is a good question; another question is how Eto'o was able to lose his marker and receive that lovely through ball; and finally another question is why after charging off of his line and knowing that Eto'o was past him, Lehmann chose to take him down.

That sequence changed the game.

[Hazzathewazza]

Good analysis. Yes, you just have that sense with Barcelona that something will eventually happen. The mark of a great team. Real had that not long ago.

Personally, I hate to say that anyone "ruined" the final. I am actually commenting on a term that others have been using. What interests me is who "effected" the final because really nothing outlandish happened in the game. And for me, it was Ronaldinho who changed the game. How he managed to get into possession of the ball in such a sweet spot of the midfield is a good question; another question is how Eto'o was able to lose his marker and receive that lovely through ball; and finally another question is why after charging off of his line and knowing that Eto'o was past him, Lehmann chose to take him down.

That sequence changed the game.

No one will know what would of happened 11 vs 11. For me, the advantage should of been played and the goal given and I believe that 9 times out of 10 the referee would give that decision.
It did spoil it for me. The first 20 minutes were brilliant and it was shaping in to a decent final. If it was one nil to Barca, Arsenal would have pushed forward, with Barca hitting them on the break. Could of been as good as last years potentially.

[ronaldinhobr10]

The sending off made it a bad final.

I strongly disagree. IMO, the match was even better with 11x10
Arsenal still were in the match, and even scored first!
I thought even with one man down, the game was great

[Madrid_1902]

I strongly disagree. IMO, the match was even better with 11x10
Arsenal still were in the match, and even scored first!
I thought even with one man down, the game was great







They scored from a set piece though. When it was 11 against 11 Arsenal were the better team creating the superior chances. When one player goes off you have to change system and you start to play 10 men behind the ball. Not that I blame Arsenal cause Barca are a potent attacking force but it's not entertaining to watch. It wasn't until the second half were Arsenal created another chance, glorious it may have been, but it certainly goes along way to suggsting a one sided affair. I know it sounds crazy but hte sending off came to early for Arsenal. Seventy minutes versus Barca with ten men is a big ask.

[IASocFan]

I thought it was a great final. And in the team playing the more beautiful soccer won!

I think some of our posters have preconceived patterns for games to follow, and this one didn't. It was definitely a suspenseful game - wondering if Arsenal could hold their precarious lead. The 11v10 definitely changed Arsenal's approach, but so what.

Waiting a couple of seconds more for Lehmann's foul might have been preferrable, but waiting to call such a foul can also cause problems. IMHO, the ref never expected to find the ball in the back of the net a few seconds after blowing the whistle. The call was absolutely correct given that he blew the whistle when he did, and Eto'o was definitely taken out of any opportunity to finish the play.

In any high level game, players are going to get away with fouls and dives. Hopefully, in the end, they even out and good soccer determines the winner. In yesterday's game, that happened, and there was plenty of beautiful soccer along the way.

[OMfreak]

The Freaking Referee Ruined It!

[John L]

I thought the Ref determined too much of the game - He should have let the play stand with the ball in the onion net -

Instead he took a goal away from Barcelona - Then he started to make it up to Arsenal all the rest of the game by giving them every little niggling call and calling fouls the opposite way - His worst call of the night was NOT GIVING EBOUE a second Yellow Card on his flagrant dive - That set up Campbell's header on a set piece - He took away a goal from Barcelona and then gifted a goal to Arsenal - The second half was similar - So many times Arsenal defenders would tackle through the legs of Barcelona players but no calls - And then had the lack of sense to give a Yellow Card to a Barcelona defender who did something far less - Arsenal complaining that the ref favored Barcelona just shows their lack of class

[Awesom-O]

It's all Ronaldinho's fault....stupid pass... (haha clearly a joke, but thats the option I picked).

[King-James]

I'd say give the ref a break. He made the correct, even if not the best call, in a very tense situation. Although it was a penalty, he probably couldn't tell from his angle, as it was so close to being a foul outside the box (Lehmann grabbed Eto'o just barely on the line).
At fault? Indeed Lehmann. He was quite respectful when interviewed after the match, saying that he thought they should have played on but understood the difficult decision that had to be made - didn't dispute that it should have been a red.
A lot of refs would have pussied out and just given a yellow. Remember Gattuso should have been sent off for a foul on Gerrard in the last final? But didn't get a card.
Ronaldinho and Eto'o caused the mess. They ruined it :D
Too bad Ronalgenius didn't play well after that. And yeah it was looking to be a great match. But for 10v11, it was good. Actually thought Arsenal were in the advantage to get the sending off and no goal - and thought they had the match won by the 70th minute.

I thought the Ref determined too much of the game - He should have let the play stand with the ball in the onion net -

But play stopped before they scored. The whistle blew before the ball was shot. Once he did that he can't go back and call it a goal.

[Hazzathewazza]

I'd say give the ref a break. He made the correct, even if not the best call, in a very tense situation. Although it was a penalty, he probably couldn't tell from his angle, as it was so close to being a foul outside the box (Lehmann grabbed Eto'o just barely on the line).
At fault? Indeed Lehmann. He was quite respectful when interviewed after the match, saying that he thought they should have played on but understood the difficult decision that had to be made - didn't dispute that it should have been a red.
A lot of refs would have pussied out and just given a yellow. Remember Gattuso should have been sent off for a foul on Gerrard in the last final? But didn't get a card.
Ronaldinho and Eto'o caused the mess. They ruined it :D
Too bad Ronalgenius didn't play well after that. And yeah it was looking to be a great match. But for 10v11, it was good. Actually thought Arsenal were in the advantage to get the sending off and no goal - and thought they had the match won by the 70th minute.



But play stopped before they scored. The whistle blew before the ball was shot. Once he did that he can't go back and call it a goal.


I wonder what Barca would of preffered. The Goal against 11 men, or no goal against 10 men?

[King-James]

I wonder what Barca would of preffered. The Goal against 11 men, or no goal against 10 men?

I don't know... Arsenal fans would say a goal v 11 men. And if that was how it went, they probably now would be saying "the ref should have given a red card and a free kick!" :rolleyes:

[EdsonArantes]

Option 4...no one ruined it

:eek: GASP...i said it

i enjoyed the game just fine from both teams...

[damion9989]

i thought that no one ruined it. the referee made the correct desicion to send off lehman , and not to give a goal as he had already blown his whistle. my only doubt was why he didnt give a penalty. arsenal did do well with 10 men and i believed they would hang on but larsson made a huge difference in the game

[goussoccer]

Thierry Henry ruined it - If he had buried his first one on one opportunity, then Lehmann would have been more likely to have NOT fouled Eto as it would have been a tieing goal rather than a 'go ahead' goal. It's all Henry's fault !! Wait a minute, he tried, the real fault is Barca's goalkeeper for blocking Henry's shot, if he didn't block it then it would have gone in and changed Lehmann's decision AND made Henry not so insufferable after the match. Wait...it was ...oh, you get my drift....

I actually did enjoy the match. It wasn't fantastic, but it was certainly very good soccer and a joy to watch.

[King-James]

Thierry Henry ruined it - If he had buried his first one on one opportunity, then Lehmann would have been more likely to have NOT fouled Eto as it would have been a tieing goal rather than a 'go ahead' goal.

Too bad he didn't finish it. That was a wonderful move and first touch.

[boniek1982]

No one ruined it. It was a very good game overall considering the stupid Lehmann episode. The game was 15 minutes in. Why the ******** would he act like a lunatic and take a man down like that? Another Lehmann brain-fart. This is great news for Poland.

As for the overall outcome, Arsenal has itself to blame:
1. Henry misses 1:1 in opening minutes.
2. Arsenal get free-kick on a Eboue DIVE and score.
3. Henry misses another 1:1...that could have sealed the deal.
4. Almunia lets in two very-soft goals. Lehmann would have saved at least one.

So its all on Henry and Lehmann. The ref made mistakes both ways. There was also a questionable hand ball in the Arsenal box...

[XaviandXabi]

should of let the goal counted but if it did then who is to say Barca would of just settled down a bit a kill the game off a little, they have been known to be a bit more defensive when they have the lead, especially in the CL

[Visca...]

REF ruined it. horrible game. He didn't favor any side.

Barcelona would've liked the goal more than the red card also.