19 July 2009
1.09 p.m.
Glory Glory Malaysia, Manchester United Boleh!!!
Yesterday was my best day of my life in term of my interest. I got a chance to see Manchester United(MU) in action live before my own eyes. Several months earlier we hearing news of MU will come to Malaysia and I am flattered with that news. So I’m saving some of my money to go to the match. With my spirit was raised by some of my friend and I am committed to go there.
My friends and I only bought the lowest price tickets which are RM 58 and maybe equivalent with £10, it might so cheap at the eyes of UK’s peoples. Here I’m straightening up, actually with your so called £10; we might be able to eat for almost 20 times for 10 days span. It means that for those who are really wanted to go to the match but doesn’t have money they got to fasting for 10 days and saved up just only for that £10. What a currency exchange cruelty. He3.
Gratefully for me, I can get both. Alhamdulillah both eat to survive and watch the game. I think MU should be grateful with the fan base they accepted here even though the tickets were not sold out but the empty seats are only at the highest price. The other parts of the stadium were filled with red devil fans.
Amazing part is that was my first time watching live match at the stadium. The mission of mine to go there was to observe the atmosphere of football match. The things that I’ve found were the sound of supporters is much the same within the video game. The flashes at the supporters’ stands come from their cameras not made by the stadium itself. The sounds of supporters actually not a same pattern because I heard what are they screaming for. I also excited because of I’m a part who made the Mexican wave at the stand. The horn that they made was so noise even if I wanted to speak to Hafiz who sits beside me I’ve got to scream. The best part is I come to the stadium with my other 7 friends and that is a lot of friends.
To achieve all the energetic moment, we facing so many obstacles to reached that satisfaction. First of all, because Afiq was still eating, he was left behind from our line. Since he bought the ticket just two day earlier, he must to enter from violet gate with Mail. The rest of us must enter from yellow gate but since Mail was between us so he can enter with us through the same gate. Then Afiq couldn’t pass through that gate so he must cross other part of stadium to enter. We got to left him and wish that we can meet in the stadium. At the other checkpoint, we must show our ticket at the guard and this time Badri who the one got to face it. His ticket was taken by the guard at the first gate. So he cannot enter the stadium. We only meters away from our seat. What a challenge for us. Badri then go to the gate try to asking his taken ticket and meanwhile for me, Hafiz, John and Mail got to enter to book our seats. So we wait for patience at our seats and grateful to God, Badri’s problem was solved. The guard still keeping his tickets and he can pass through. Sad for Afiq, he got to watch it alone at the other side of the stadium. So seven of us which are Adli, Hafiz, Daud, John, Adam (a Liverpool fans who said that Michael Owen is a traitor), Badri and Mail here seating patiently for the game.
As the matter of fact, we entered the stadium at 3.00 o’clock. It is barely two hours and half before the kick off. It is too early but yet, the RM 98 seats were filled with red sea of peoples. So many people can be patient and enthusiastic about MU but not to other things that much important to themselves like solat. At some point before the match starts, there somebody who walks around the field and peoples start screaming. Maybe they just scream because I didn’t even know who the man who walks is. Then after waiting in hot and sweat, Malaysian players started to enter the field for warming up. The crowds screaming again. Since I’m not really knows who plays for Malaysia so I don’t mind to recognize them. Later the MU players entered the stadium for same purpose and the crowds screaming even louder including me. I’ve tried to look at their face but so bad they are too far and I also couldn’t recognize who they are. At this point I started thinking that watching this match live in Astro is much better than come here.
Few minutes later, the kick off is about to start. Then I know my thought was wrong. The feeling of watching the match live at the stadium is so much different in watching in TV. You got a close perspective even though the TV shows complete coverage but the feeling watching football in front my very own eyes is very best. I can see all the players who started the match with their shirts on. At our side of goal there are Edwin Van Der Sar, he is really tall. There Rio Ferdinand pairing with Johnny Evans. At the left back Patrice Evra and at the right back Sir Alex Ferguson put John O’shea. Right wing, the void which Cristiano Ronaldo left to Real Madrid was filled by Darren Gibson at the meantime and at the left wing Nani who plays the role. In the middle is my favourite Paul Scholes is playing partnering with Anderson who uses his left foot a lot. At the front, it is my hero Wayne Rooney paired with Dimitar Berbatov playing to produce goals.
Well generally most of the audiences might think about goal feast from MU so here they come barely ten minutes of play, Rooney scores. I’m a bit sad but I’m not celebrating it very happily because you know, for MU it is not an impossible thing. But Rooney didn’t celebrate the goal. Why Rooney, why? Later Nani added a goal for MU makes it 2 goals in front. Here I’m satisfied because Nani celebrate his goal with his usual summersault action. I’m very happy at this time.
Well overall for Malaysian performance not so good. Their shots were weak and off to sea. But it is good, at the middle of the field, the Malaysians can avoid being fooled by the MU and they do the tricks on MU players. It is a good works boy. It almost half time and the magical moment come at the right moment. The Malaysian keeper, Farizal took a goal kick directly to Amri Yahyah but Evra couldn’t handle it wisely. The ball came off from Amri Yahyah chest and after a bump from the ball he took a powerful kick which made the ball lobbing over Van Der Sar and the ball hit the net. GOAL!!! We’re screaming like crazy because Malaysia been able to scores against the best club on the planet. Even only for scoring it is the best feeling you can get. I’m standing in adoration. Even my head was write Manchester United but the feeling you are Malaysian can’t be avoided even though you’re some fan of other clubs.
Shortly after that, the whistle goes off signaling for the end for the first half with 2-1 score while MU is leading. We are watching the replays through the big screen in front of us. Every one of us is happy but the fact that MU performance was drop also comes to my mind. I have another excuse, yes of course. I’m Mr Reasons. So if anyone asked me why this is happen so I will answer that Malaysia performances is improving. If any other club who takes on Malaysia such as Chelsea might be beaten easily with 3-0 scoreline. He3.
The second half then started. The keeper has been changed from Van Der Sar to Ben Foster to replace him. So much talked keeper who might be the best keeper for England some day. Few minutes later after they started the MU defense is giving a back pass to Foster but bad thing happen. Foster can get it in fact that it is an easy ball but at the same time Amri Yahyah chases the ball and finally he scores again. GOAL!!! Once again I’m celebrating with standing on my foot like the rest of the crowds. What a satisfaction for Malaysian who can get a draw at the mean time with MU!
This 2-2 score line goes on for a while and at one point the crowds saying “Owen, Owen, Owen” asking him to be played by Sir Alex. It might be also in his plan; Owen has been replacing with Wayne Rooney to take the role as a striker upfront. Here also I’m very happy because I’m a fan of Michael Owen as England striker. But he is not making so much impact. The result seems that MU will be blushes by Malaysian side with a draw but shortly before full time whistle, Owen with his trademark goal which comes from trouble in front the opposition goal was paid. He scores from a 50-50 try between Malaysian keeper and other player of MU that I’m not remembered. He took the chances and he will be happy to score the winning goal.
Some of us disappointed that Malaysia cannot hold the draw until the match end. But some of us hoping that Malaysia can win the match with just one other goal that did not happen. Finally the result ended with 2-3 with MU winning the game and this is a typical result and the only thing that the fans will be discussing around the world is why Manchester United cannot win with higher margin and also let Malaysian scores. But for us it is a satisfaction to watch a thrilled match between Malaysia and Manchester United and so much experience through it. If I have been given another same opportunity I will go again and I hope another time I will watch Manchester United match at Old Trafford. Or if the other opportunities come I will watch the Malaysian team beating Brazil or England and then crowned as the World Champion. Who knows?
But still I'm a bit disappointed. Due to cancellation of Indonesian, the oganizer wanted to have a rematch between MU and Malaysia XI. So our match yesterday was not very special. And I don't want to come anymore because of money and time limitation. Maybe next year. Good luck Malaysia for the rematch.
FEAR IS THE PATH TO THE DARK SIDE. FEAR LEADS TO ANGER. ANGER LEADS TO HATE. HATE... LEADS TO SUFFERING.
- Master Yoda -
