Saturday photo



Cool it!

When the going gets tough... the tough cools it.  When the going gets rough... the lame employs an abrasive ghost writer - to write her e-mails. =)  Nah, don't worry, we'll try to never be lame... just always sincerely passionate... and plainly honest - honestly!  :)   

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Footie talk is cool talk

Alright, Foodball Captain, where are you?  I need someone to write my e-, er, rave with over the second leg of the FC Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain UEFA Champions League quarter final tie in Camp Nou.  :)  That miracle of a 1-1 draw (3-3 on aggregate, and won by Barça on away goals), with an equalizer for Barça care of Pedro Rodriguez who was set up by the injured Lionel Messi, was a thing of absolute beauty - it deserves some raving here. 

In the first leg in Paris, Barça's defense was kind of rattled by PSG's fierce and fast counter-attacks, resulting to a hard-earned 2-2 draw, and an injured hamstring for Leo.  In the second leg, the Catalan defense was struggling completely, and their frontline reduced to a toothless kitten.  With the injured Leo not in Barça's starting XI, the first half and the first 20 minutes or so of

Defeat is uncool... when the big-eared cup is on
the line. Therefore, change the game - win!

(Image credit: Shaun Boterill/Getty Images)

the second half was painful to watch - especially for Leo.  Good thing, Leo and Tito Vilanova had the courage to gamble on the four-time Ballon d'Or winner's injured right hamstring... and their courage was rewarded.  Like a heaven-sent archangel, Leo changed the pace and the fabric of the game when he came on, jolting his teammates from 'sleeprunning' to fierceness, and evoking unacknowledged fear from the visiting Parisians. The Catalan crowd came alive... soon, there was electricity in the air!  With a mesmerizing drib-drib-dribble, Leo created the play, which was kept alive by the all-of-sudden sharp David Villa, and superbly finished by Pedro to an equalizing goal. Bea-bea-beautiful, I tell ya!  

And just like that, Barça moved to the semis... which essentially is going to be a Spain vs. Germany affair:  Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund on the first half and then FC Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich on the other half.  Barça'd better be ready, 'cause the Bavarians are a tough (and rough when needed) lot.  Is it smelling like an El Clasico in Wembley come May 25?  Gosh, speaking of tough... and rough!        

Oh, and that Manchester derby in the Old Trafford a few days back, where ManCity beat ManUnited, 2-1... that was good stuff!  Fast, fast, fast-paced affair that was... and raining with yellow cards, too.  In the end, a serious brawl almost erupted... and it wasn't between Roberto Mancini and Sir Alex Ferguson either.  Yep, tough and rough! 

Yes, yes, and yes, I am sick!  These days I only get to watch football when I'm sick.  Alright, Foodball Captain, where in UEFA's leather ball seam are you hiding?   I want to talk footie here! 

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