Hi again. It's been a while since my last post (nearly a week!!) and alot has happened since my last post. Let's get on with things then.
I think what I first wish to discuss this week are the two European club football competitions. That's right, this week, the participants in both finals (i.e. the Champions League, and the Europa League) were decided and so let's crack on with a little bit of chat about the semi-final second legs. We'll start with the CL and Bayern Munich. On Tuesday night, in Lyon, Bayern Munich spectacularly thrashed their hosts 3-0 to go through to the CL final on the 12th May, the first time they've made it there since 2000. The man they have to thank for what was a brilliant display harkening back to the glory days at the start of the last decade is Ivica Olic, a man who, single-handedly, scored a hat-trick in Southern France to put the German heavyweights back where many of their fans will tell you they belong. I'm sure when people saw the draw for the quarter-finals of this competition, they would've told you that Manchester United would cruise to the final on this side of the draw. The Germans upset those odds, and then the odds were against them when they came up against a brilliant Lyon side who look truly at home in the latter stages of Europe's premier club football tournament, but yet again they surprised us. I don't think Bayern will win in the final, but they've already proved to the mass media and the watching masses that they can overturn odds and produce something truly sensational at times so who knows? Onto the second semi-final then and one which the world was definitely watching. Inter Milan, under Jose Mourinho's excellent tutelage came up against the favourites to retain the crown they won so convincingly last year against Manchester United, Barcelona. The second leg was finely poised after Inter had stunned the holders 3-1 at the San Siro. This however, was a different prospect. As we all know, Barcelona are incredibly strong at the Nou Camp, even if they do sometimes have the odd wobble away from home. The result then looked certain but yet again, Mourinho and his charges stunned Europe, with Barcelona walking away 1-0 winners on the night, but 3-2 losers on aggregate, setting up a final between the Italian champions Inter, and the brilliant Germans at Bayern. As I said, I really can't see past Inter Milan, but after this season, I will never count Bayern out of the Champions League again.
Europa League now then, and a special evening for Fulham. Having managed to hold Hamburg 0-0 away from home last week, Fulham now faced a Hamburg side who had to win at Craven Cottage to get to the final at their own ground in Hamburg. They had enough incentive then? However, it was the Cottagers who, for the thrid time in a week, stunned European football coming from 1-0 down to conquer their German visitors 2-1 on what was an historic night at the Cottage. This may be the defining moment in Fulham's season, and again many people will say that Fulham simply can't win the Europa League, but look at who they've beaten in this competition already, holders Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, Wolfsburg and now Hamburg. They are a very good side in Europe this season, and I defy anyone to count them out of the final. So, who are their opponents for the final I hear you cry. It's not Liverpool. Unfortunately from them, they were dumped out by a former Manchester United striker in Deigo Forlan. That for them must be the worst pain imaginable and it's unfortunate that it won't be an all-English final in the first Europa League campaign. Atletico Madrid v Fulham. Many people will see that as an impossible task for Fulham, but they're like this seasons Bayern of the Europa League: never count them out.
So, World Championship Snooker. I'll spare you all the details, but this year's fairytale is over, after the Thunder From Down Under knocked out the Nugget Steve Davis 13-5. It was sad to see him go, but I guess we need the best players in the semi-finals. Having said that, Mr Ronnie O'Sullivan, who came through one of the matches of the tournament against Mark Williams, has been knocked out of the tournament by the Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby. Semi-finals then are Neil Robertson v Ali Carter and Mark Selby v Greame Dott. Obviously, I will discuss these matches more after their completion and the final will be heavily looked over, but for now its suffice enough to say that Robertson is leading Ali Carter 10-6 (with session 3 starting right now) and Greame Dott leading Mark Selby 10-6 so it's all fairly beautifully poised going into semi-final Saturday as I am dubbing it.
So you may be asking yourself, what is this "University flavour" you alluded to and the start of this post. Well, here we go. Wednesday saw the renewal of a bitter and storied rivalry as Swansea University took on Cardiff University in the annual Varisty day. Essentially, both Universities send all their sports team to the hosting Univeristy and we play each other in a points based tournament (each sport equals 1 point) to determine who is better. I myself went to watch the Mens 1st teams do battle on the football pitch. Cardiff were huge favourites before the game having finished 2nd in the league whilst Swansea had been relegated, but the home support got right behind the boys and the banter was tip-top as Swansea and Cardiff both chanted their hearts out. Against all the odds, Swansea came out as 5-1 winners. Cue a pitch invasion and scenes of mass hysteria as Swansea's students took to the pitch to celebrate with the boys and spray beer over the europhoric Swansea lads. This victory meant we couldn't be caught and that whatever happened, we would win the Varsity trophy. So, Liberty Stadium, Swansea Univerity Mens 1st Rugby team versus their Cardiff rivals. The atmosphere was fantastic as both Universities cheered their lads on hoping that they could roar their boys to victory. Only one University was ecstatic and the final whistle, and that was us jubilant Swansea University students, and despite the plea's of the stadium announcer, cue another pitch invasion by the amassed Swansea students with more chanting, singing and hugging in sheer delight. It was a wonderful day to be a Swansea University student, and having waited 3 years without a win, I was in absolute ecstasy at the final whistle, and am so proud of how our guys and girls got on. Well done to everybody who was involved, and to the supporters, for making it such an incredible day.
That unfortunately, brings another post to an end. I hope you enjoyed this one, and don't begrudge me for including details about Varisty, as for me, it was such an emotional and brilliant experience that I wanted to share it with all of you. Thanks for reading, see you all again either tomorrow or more than likely Sunday. Cheers
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