MOSCOW — Manchester United beat Chelsea 6-5 in a rain-soaked penalty shootout to win the European Champions League title Wednesday night following a 1-1 tie.
In the first final between two English teams, Edwin van der Sar batted away Nicolas Anelka’s drive on the 14th kick to give Manchester United its third Champions League title. This championship, following titles in 1968 and 1999, came in the 50th anniversary year of the plane crash that killed eight United players in Munich, Germany.
Cristiano Ronaldo had scored in the 26th minute for Manchester United, his 42nd goal of the season. Frank Lampard tied it for Chelsea in the 45th.
Ronaldo, considered by many Europe’s top player this season, was stopped by goalkeeper Petr Cech on United’s third penalty kick. That gave the advantage to Chelsea, which has never won Europe’s top club title.
“When we missed the penalty kick, we thought we were in trouble,” said United’s Alex Ferguson, who led the club to its 22nd title overall since he became manager in September 1986.
Chelsea captain John Terry stepped up with the score 4-4 and the chance to win it. But he slipped and his kick hit a post as Manchester keeper van der Sar dived the other way. Terry sat on the ground in disbelief.
