6:14 ET: This was a great championship match for sure. It would’ve been nice if someone had won in extra time but it wasn’t to be. These games often hinge on kicks. So it wasn’t too surprising. Congrats to Manchester United on taking the trophy! 

6:11 ET: The trophy presentation was nice. First, runner-up Chelsea received their medals. Manchester all lined up and applauded patting several players on the back for a well played match. Then the champions had their moment in the sun (well not really since it was almost 2 AM in Moscow in pouring rain). Giggs got to hold the trophy. A great moment for a veteran who broke the United record for most ever appearances. 

6:06 ET: Giggs didn’t misfire putting a low accurate shot into the right portion of the goal to give Manchester the 6-5 lead putting the pressure squarely on Chelsea’s Nicholas Anelka. He went for the right corner but a lunging van der Sar read it getting his right hand on it to swat it away for the dramatic win. He was then mobbed by teammates as they celebrated the huge victory in style. Definitely felt for Terry because he could’ve been the hero. Instead, the Chelsea captain will be remembered unfortunately for missing the potential winner. Such is the dramatic game of soccer.

6:03 ET: The heroes were veteran Ryan Giggs and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. However, if not for Chelsea captain John Terry missing a chance to win it, United wouldn’t have prevailed. Manchester’s Christiano Ronaldo was looking like the goat when he was stopped by Petr Cech, who didn’t go for his hesitation fake. To be honest, Cech was tremendous in this match making some unbelievable stops in the first half to keep his team in it. He really played well. It came down to Terry, who had made that unreal defensive play to deny Giggs of a potential winner in extra time. But as he went for the right corner, he slipped missing wide to keep Manchester’s bid fo a third Euro championship alive.  

5:57 ET: Manchester United are European Champions again! For the third time in their history, they have won the Champions League. It’s the first time since 1999. They defeated Chelsea 6-5 in kicks to claim the trophy. 5:22 ET: Here comes the penalty kicks to decide the champion. 

5:20 ET: It’s going to kicks! The second extra time was very physical as both teams got in each others’ faces. Chelsea’s Didier Drogba was given a red card for slapping Nemanja Vidic. So Manchester had an 11-on-10 advantage but couldn’t cash in. There were a lot of players going down on the field in rainy conditions stopping play.

5:02 ET: And now, the second 15 extra minutes. If nobody scores, then it’s on to kicks in this All-English final. 

4:59 ET: They played the first 15 minutes without anyone scoring. There were close calls on both sides with Chelsea hitting another post and then Manchester United looking like they setup the potential winner for veteran Ryan Giggs who had an open net but a brilliant defensive play by Chelsea’s John Terry prevented a certain goal by blocking it with his head.

4:40 ET: Here comes extra time. 

4:39 ET: Chelsea had the better of the play dictating for large portions of the second half. They had quite a few corner kicks and also hit a right goalpost from over 30 feet out. Manchester picked it up at the end. 

4:38 ET: The championship match is still tied 1-1 headed to extra time. They’ll play 15 minutes apiece to see if they can decide it. If it’s still knotted, then it goes to penalty kicks.  

3:48 ET: The second half will begin shortly from Moscow. 

3:47 ET: The first half is over with the score tied 1-1. Manchester’s Christiano Ronaldo scored on a perfect header in the 27th minute to put them ahead. But Chelsea’s Frank Lampard took advantage of a blown assignment getting to a loose ball and swiping it past Edwin van der Sar to tie the match in the final minute of the first half.