Around the Corner

Around the corner at the right side of the opponents’ goal, is the area I choose to find a seat while enjoying the beautiful game. I have been an avid fan and connoisseur of the beautiful game, consistently pumping my adrenaline to the max. And today, I find myself among the 67,000-odd spectators flooding the magnificent Old Trafford, home of Manchester United.

  The crowd cheers as the Red Devils step foot onto the football field. The phenomenal atmosphere of the sell-out crowd greatly emphasizes the enthusiasm of the fans towards the team they support. “A bright sunny day it is and we are about to witness the greatest football match ever,” says the commentator. Then, the Raul-led Los Galacticos enter the battlefield surrounded by the hardcore fans of both teams.

  Manchester United, with world class players like hotshot Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ryan Giggs, inspirational Paul Scholes and not to mention the exciting youngster Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks are up against the star-studded Real Madrid who have their big guns Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos, United old boy David Beckham and co all fired up for the battle. The crowd (already mouth-watering) waits in anxiety before the whistle is blown for the grudge match to begin.

  United skipper Roy Keane passes the ball to Scholes who loses it to Zidane. He then passes to Ronaldo who outwits two defenders before unleashing a rasping right-foot shot. But United keeper Howard produces a brilliant save…

  Then, with a quarter of an hour over, Beckham takes the corner which Carlos meets with a thundering header. But Howard’s quick reflex save denies Real the opening goal again. Repertoire after repertoire of saves pulled out by Howard leave the Real fans wondering what their team has to do to beat this pair of hands.

  Every top side is built on a good defence and at the heart of every good defence is an outstanding goalkeeper. In Howard, United have the best keeper around. And this point is... [continues]

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