Macheda puts United on top

Liverpool scored a last-grasp goal in the 91st minute to defeat Fulham 1-0 on Saturday... Not to be outdone, Man Utd also scored a crucial goal in the 93rd minute to claim a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa in a pulsating match! Below is the match report:

Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa

Macheda the hero on dream United debut
Updated: April 5, 2009, 6:11 PM UK

Federico Macheda enjoyed a truly remarkable introduction to English football as he curled home an injury-time winner to give Manchester United a 3-2 win over Aston Villa which sends them back to the Premier League summit.

It seemed the Red Devils would have to settle for a point after Cristiano Ronaldo's brace had only proved enough to keep United level against a Villa side that thoroughly deserved a lead provided by John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

But Macheda, a former member of the Lazio academy who arrived at Old Trafford in 2007, was to have the last word.

At exactly the same moment as Yossi Benayoun struck for Liverpool at Fulham last night, Macheda turned onto Ryan Giggs' low pass before unleashing a stunning shot that curled past Brad Friedel and sent Old Trafford into ecstasy.

With Rio Ferdinand's groin injury failing to ease in time for him to be considered, United were without their first-choice defenders and their first-choice strikers amid six missing men that included Wayne Rooney.

Gary Neville's first appearance for two months was expected to come at right-back, so it was something of a surprise to see him line up alongside Jonny Evans in the centre of United's defence.

Carew's eyes certainly lit up, given his vast height advantage, which he duly exploited to the full.

On the back of an eight-match winless streak, Villa's confidence was a bit fragile too but their dominance in the 14 minutes before Ronaldo's wonder-goal provided enough evidence for them to retain self-belief even after they had gone behind.

During that opening flurry of attacks, Fletcher kneed a Carew header onto a post and Agbonlahor sped clear of Neville only to fail in his quest to find a team-mate with a low cross.
It is difficult to understand why a team that swept all before it for virtually three months should suddenly appear to be so poor.

Beyond question is the individual ability they possess, although the brutal nature of Ronaldo's 19th goal of the season still took the breath away.

Normally the kind of opportunity provided when James Milner and Friedel got themselves into a muddle, forcing the Villa keeper to handle a back pass, could be a bit of a negative given its proximity to the opponents' goal. Not on this occasion.

Ryan Giggs brushed the ball to his illustrious young team-mate, who sent it over the wall and into the roof of Friedel's net in a flash.

A sense of calm should have spread across home ranks. Instead, Villa merely came again.
Showing the form that established them in the Champions League positions at Arsenal's expense by the end of January, Agbonlahor and Ashley Young terrorised the United defence.

Edwin van der Sar was called upon to keep Villa out on three occasions but there was nothing he could do to deny Carew when Gareth Barry wriggled his way into space by the touchline.

The Norwegian crept between Neville and O'Shea to steer a deft header into the bottom corner.
Ferguson responded by putting Neville back to full-back, giving up the unequal struggle of competing with Carew. He also urged the United fans to make more noise, indicating a fear that talent on its own was not going to be enough.

The response was patchy and failed to curb Villa's enthusiasm.

Ronaldo excels at many things. Chasing back is not one of them. And when he gifted possession to Stiliyan Petrov inside the visitors' half just before the hour, he allowed the Bulgarian to sweep upfield unopposed.

Agbonlahor hung around waiting for the cross Petrov presented Carew with the opportunity to supply, then rose majestically to find the bottom corner, just as his strike partner had done earlier.

Ferguson's response was to introduce 17-year-old Macheda, which in itself said something about United's plight.

It did however bring an immediate improvement and when Michael Carrick exchanged first-time passes with Giggs on the edge of the Villa box, he then presented Ronaldo with a lay-off.
The world player of the year did not have a lot to aim at but he found the one small gap Friedel was unable to cover.

Still, when Friedel denied Danny Welbeck two minutes from time, it seemed United would have to settle for a point.

Macheda, however, had other ideas.

Source: www.soccernet.com

Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People

I've recently just finished reading this book and I must say that this is one of the best book I've ever read.  The content and the message it delivered was so simple, but it was delivered with a powerful impact!  This book is readily available at all major bookstores and I strongly urge you to purchase it if you feel that you need to do something positive to enhance your life and those around you!

Introducing... Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People by Rich DeVos

The simple act of offering a kind word can have the power to change lives in positive and profound ways.

Successful businessman, philanthropist, and motivational speaker Rich DeVos has learned the value of maintaining a positive attitude and offering encouragement to others.  Now, with the knowledge and wisdom he has gained from his experiences and the influential people he has met, BeVos offers you the key he has discovered in unlocking the powerful potential ten ordinary yet lifechanging phrases.  Simply by adding these phrases into your daily conversations you can help to build relationships, motivate achievement, instill confidence, and change attitudes in your work and family life.

Beyond these practical but profound phrases, DeVos delivers an inspiring message of building hope that resonates in the heart of every human being.  Your decision to live with a positive attitude can change your life, your community, even the world.  Start today with one small phrase: You can do it.

About the Author:
Rich DeVos is the cofounder of Amway and chairman of the NBA Orlando Magic.  He is the author of the bestsellers Hope from my Heart and Compassionate Capitalism.

Man Utd crowned champions of UEFA Champions League 07/08

Manchester United 1 - 1 Chelsea

Manchester United became kings of Europe for the third time on a night of high drama and emotion in Moscow as they beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was the hero with a penalty save to deny Nicolas Anelka after Chelsea captain John Terry had missed the chance to win the Blues the trophy by firing his own spot-kick hit the post.

The dramatic shootout looked to be going Chelsea's way after Petr Cech saved Cristiano Ronaldo's effort but Terry's miss opened the door for Sir Alex Ferguson to clinch his second Champions League crown.

As the celebrations began, you could have expected the ghosts of such giants as Duncan Edwards and George Best to be dancing with delight at the outcome.

It is 40 years since United first won the trophy with a team rebuilt by Sir Matt Busby from the survivors of that Munich disaster. Eight players lost their lives following the catastrophic events on a snow-filled German runway in February 1958.

It was fitting that United became the first English club to win the trophy 10 years later and even more apt that, half a century on, Ferguson's men had again taken on Europe's finest and beaten them all.

Their achievement was made even more poignant by Munich survivors Harry Gregg, Albert Scanlon, Kenny Morgans, Bill Foulkes and Sir Bobby Charlton, now a club director, who watched the drama unfold from the stands.

But modern-day football has its own heroes and the likes of Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and the unstoppable Ronaldo now trip off the tongue in the same way Best and Charlton once did.

Yet, the opening 25 minutes of the first all-English final barely lived up to its hysterical pre-match hype.

However, all that changed from the moment Ronaldo headed United in front with his 42nd goal of a memorable season.

Paul Scholes, who missed United's last triumph through suspension in 1999, played a delightful interchange of passes with Wes Brown on the right flank.

His final return pass put Brown in the clear and the full-back's left-foot cross found the waiting Ronaldo in space at the far post.

The Portugal international planted a firm header into the corner of the net past a static Cech to give United first blood.

Chelsea's somewhat muted response almost brought them an equaliser in the 33rd minute when Lampard's cross was headed back into the six-yard box by Didier Drogba.

United's Rio Ferdinand, under pressure from Michael Ballack, was forced to head the ball towards his own goal and only a superb save from Van der Sar prevented a Chelsea equaliser.

But it required a sensational double save from Cech to deny United their second moments later.

Wayne Rooney delivered an inch-perfect 40-yard crossfield ball into the path of the ever-dangerous Ronaldo and the United goalscorer placed his cross on the head of the diving Tevez only for Cech to deny him.

Chelsea's failure to clear the loose ball gave Michael Carrick the chance to reward their superb approach work but again Cech was equal to the task with another fine save.

The Blues began to grow in confidence as the first half approached its climax and in the 45th minute, they took advantage of a massive slice of luck to level the score.

Michael Essien's attempted shot from 25-yards took two deflections on its way towards goal but the most telling was off the back of United captain Ferdinand.

It changed the direction of the ball into the path of Lampard, who duly supplied the finish from six yards.

Chelsea, buoyed by their flourish at the end of the first half, almost took the lead in the 54th minute.

Essien managed to get clear of the United defence but his attempted curler from the edge of the penalty area was far too high.

It was all Chelsea now but they could not force a second goal. Drogba sent a header a wide from Lampard's corner and Ballack was just off target with a 25-yard drive.

In the 77th minute, United had the woodwork to thank when Drogba sent a 20-yard shot against Van der Sar's left-hand upright. The Ivorian went close again four minutes from time when he just failed to convert Joe Cole's low cross.

Ryan Giggs was introduced in place of Scholes seconds later for the Welshman to make a record 759th appearance for the Red Devils.

The game went into extra-time, and within three minutes of the restart, the woodwork came to United's rescue again. This time it was Lampard who sent his shot crashing against the crossbar as United continued to ride their luck.

But Chelsea were almost made to pay dearly eight minutes later when Terry cleared a goalbound effort from Giggs off his own line.

Drogba was then sensationally sent off for slapping Nemanja Vidic as tempers flared on both sides.

But the lottery of penalties ensured that United clinched the trophy.

Source - www.soccernet.com

Words of Wisdom by Warren Buffet

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity. Following are some very interesting aspects of his life:

1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!
2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.
3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha , that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.
4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.
5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.
6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis.
7. He has given his CEO's only two rules.
   - Rule number 1: do not lose any of your share holder's money.
   - Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.
8. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch Television.
9. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.
10. Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.
11. His advice to young people:
    "Stay away from credit cards (bank loans) and invest in yourself and remember:

• Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money.
• Live your life as simple as you are.
• Don't do what others say, just listen them, but do what you feel good.
• Don't go on brand name; just wear those things in which you feel comfortable.
• Don't waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on them who really in need rather.
• After all it's your life then why give chance to others to rule our life."
  

A quote to share

"Effort, not ability, makes the biggest difference in achievement."

- BILL CLINTON,
42nd President of the United States

Ronaldinho kicks off with Nutrilite!

(Friday, 29 February 2008)

Out of his 356 appearances at club and international levels in his career up till now, he has scored a whopping 149 goals! No mean feat, but then again, he is after all, an illustrious player who delivers his best, just as Nutrilite promises and delivers the best of nature and the best of science to everyone.

Ronaldo de Assís Moreira or commonly known as Ronaldinho, the world’s most marketable footballer, has scored yet another goal by inking a sponsorship deal with Nutrilite. It’s a case of the best signing up with the best.

The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, European Footballer of the Year, and two-time FIFPro World Player of the Year is all set to dazzle the world of Nutrilite.

For more information, kindly log on to Nutrilite's website.

A quote to share

"You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile."

- BRIAN TRACY, AUTHOR