Lucky United Wins

Didier Drogba gets sent off for a petulant hand to the face of Nemanja Vidic. John Terry slips and put his penalty attempt off the post. And Edwin van der Sar saves the 14th kick of a penalty shootout.

Instead of another English Premier League or FA Cup game at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge or Wembley, this drama was being played out half a continent away in Moscow's Luzhniki stadium, and resulted in Manchester United's 6-5 penalty shootout win over Chelsea to give the Reds their third European Cup crown.

The result — which followed 1-1 draw from 120 minutes — made Chelsea a runner-up for the third time and underscored United manager Alex Ferguson's belief that the Premier League had caught up with and probably overtaken the leagues of Spain, Italy and Germany.

"The improvement in the Premier League is very noticeable," said the veteran Scottish manager who has now won 22 titles in his 22 years at Old Trafford. "I am pleased because it was a fantastic game. I have watched finals in the past and they have not been very good because of the pressure."

With the rain increasing, Van der Sar dived to his right to block Nicolas Anelka's penalty attempt to give the Red Devils the title — 10 days after United edged Chelsea to win the Premier League crown.

"That's the first penalty shootout I've ever won," Ferguson said. "I lost three with Aberdeen and three with United so it's seventh time lucky."

In a final that included a red card and all the flareups usually associated with meetings between English powerhouses, Cristiano Ronaldo put United ahead in the 26th minute. Frank Lampard equalized in the final minute of the first half.

In extra time, Chelsea hit the post and the bar before goalkeeper Petr Cech saved Ronaldo's penalty in the shootout. But Terry, stepping up for a chance to win the title, slipped and hit the right post.

"I was thinking he's going to score," Rio Ferdinand said of Terry, his defensive teammate on the England national team. "He's a great penalty taker normally but he slipped. Unfortunately someone's got to lose and tonight it's them."

Anderson and Ryan Giggs — making a club record 759th appearance to surpass Bobby Charlton — then hit the target for United.

Carlos Tevez, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves and Nani converted United's other attempts, while Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti, Lampard, Ashley Cole and Salomon Kalou scored for Chelsea.

"Twelve years ago I lost on penalties and we've won it now," said Van der Sar, who won the title with Ajax in 1995 but lost in a shootout to Juventus a year later. "It's unbelievable. We deserve it. It's fantastic."

While his teammates ran to congratulate Van der Sar in front of the United fans behind the goal, Ronaldo lay face down in the center circle. Eventually he got up to join in the celebrations.

By contrast, Terry was in tears at the end and was hugged and consoled by coach Avram Grant, who appeared to throw his runners-up medal into the Chelsea crowd.

"He is very sad and he cried, but he is the main reason we are here," Grant said. "It was not a normal season. He took responsibility today to take the last penalty."

Ferguson, who also led Man United to the Champions League title in 1999, also won two Scottish league titles, the Scottish Cup and Cup Winners' Cup with Aberdeen.