Preliminaries
Well at the summer of 2012 when the major league is Europe had come to a close was one of the big premier league teams had just missed out embarrassing out of top four spot. All admirers of the premier league know the consequences of missing out of the money spilling UEFA Champions League. Not only was Chelsea going to miss out in the competition the following season, the 15kg weighing trophy remains the only title missing in the clubs cabinet since its evolutional purchase by Russian billionaire.
Munich 2012
Saturday, 19th May remains my most cherished day on blue jersey as I joined the team to paint the sky blue at Allianz Arena right in from of over 200 fans in a local viewing centre here. Chelsea football club was on this day at 8: 45 GMT to slug it out with German giant side Bayern Munich right there at their back yard in Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. The tournament was first of its kind to host a match which was meant to be a neutral ground for both teams in 28 years but low and behold; Bayern Munich was playing in their very own stadium though the football governing body had two years (30th January, 2010) before announced the venue. Haven lost out in the their first ever finals in the competition to Manchester United in 2008 in agony through deleterious captain John Terry terrible penalty, the same crop of players where to redeem their mistake against a Bayern Munich side that had won four and lost same number in the finals.
Allianz Arena; the glowing stadium
Located at 25 Werner Heisenberg-Allen in the northern edge of Munich’s Schwabing-Freimann with a seating capacity of 75, 000 may not be the biggest of the world football stadium but remains my finest and most memorable. Don’t know how much I will describe the first stadium in the world with a full colour changing exterior of inflated ETFE plastic panels and self cleaning costing about £340 million. Nicked named ‘’Schlauchboot’’ is the largest arena in Germany behind Westfalen stadium in Durtmond, Due to some reason the name Allianz Arena is only used during Bayern Munich home matches. Football Arena, Munich in its English translation is used instead for UEFA and Nations league matches or FIFA World Cup Stadium, Munich for FIFA tournament to make it the only stadium with different nomenclature for every tournament it hosts. The stadium partly became home stadium of Bayern Munich football club in 2006 as they bought out the remaining shares of TVS 1860 50% at £11million later took over the remaining 50% following 1860 financial crisis.
Opening Ceremony
The green and turquoise which represent the official UEFA emblem for the final constantly illuminated the Arena as the outer shell of the stadium changes colour from red to blue vowing from the exterior. The opening formalities was glories with the UEFA Champions League song playing in the background. The artistic display was phenomenon which replicated the trophy and the round leather ball. Pictures were taking by both fans in their marrying mood. Finally the players match in in full cheers to start the match day formalities and the referees whistle sounded with another cheers of enthusiasm.
First Half Intimidating Atmosphere
Chelsea resilience, disciple, without our suspended captain survived almighty Barcelona team that paraded the likes of football mini god Lionel Messi in the semi finals with 10 men was the experienced helped us to withstand the Bayern Munich onslaught. At every goal attempt made by Bayern was an echo of oh!!!! from the 20, 000 Bayern fans base adorning the German team section of the stadium. The red and touch of white flag was being waved with much enthusiasm as those of Chelsea were at low mask. It all seems the Munich fans were drawing their energy from every the Chelsea fans released and leaving them weaken every seconds.
Second Half Goals
Everything turned for good for the home teams supposedly in the second half when Thomas Muller headed in Toni kroos's crossing which bounced on the floor to beat Petr Cech gave them the lead on 83 minutes. The joy of the host team was short lived as Juan Mata’s 88 minutes corner and last Chelsea chance in that game met Drogba who had release himself from the Bayern defenders to run 2 meters towards the ball to net in a tight angle goal. The keeper attends to stop the fast moving ball proved abortive. The jubilation of the men on blue at the north wing of the stadium 2 minutes later which marked the end of the full 90 minutes was epic.
Extra time
Bayern continued where they stopped with every threat they got and it paid off when Drogba became the owl that kills at night and cry in the morning brought down Frank Ribery is a reckless challenge at the nick of the first half of the 30 minutes added extra time which saw Frank Ribery left the pitch injured. Score the spot kick and lift trophy. That was only one devil Arjen Robben must conquer to reach the Promised Land with Bayern. Blue fans hope now hinged on goal keeper Petr Cech as their lord and personal saviour. At this point, I felt like every other blues army standing in Allienz Arena. I gave up hope and tears rolled down my cheek as I was proud in mix feelings. I couldn’t apportion blame to anybody because the boys fought like Lions. Every moment was compounded as fans of other clubs at the viewing centre touted Chelsea fans, saying all demeaning words at the Noisy Blues as they call it. My bone wouldn’t carry my flesh as I developed Parkinson disease. I have never prayed to God all my life the way my spirit was calling for the calamity of another man. If there is anything like ‘’god of soccer’’ all the blue faithful worshiped him that moment. Arjen stepped up on that heat of the moment and it was an answered prayer to us. Chelsea former employee Arjen Robben failed to convert the penalty to drive the nail into the coffin as Petr Cech dived to save the low drive shot under his arms.
The Penalty drama
Juan Mata was the first to take the penalty for Chelsea after Philip Lahm had converted his in a very clinical manner to put the host on the driver’s seat. The tension could be felt even though the stadium was at peace. One of our finest players reminded me of our agony of four years ago when we missed to lift the trophy at same state of penalty against Manchester United in 2008. I didn’t eat the whole day as the picture kept playing in my head and now I was about facing another self inflicted nightmare The chilling cold that went down my spinal cord signalled me that it was over. Opportunity they say come but once and we have been given that opportunity in equalizing he goal and another in a penalty save. If another one should come, it will be very unfair to Bayern team. Mario Gomez stepped out to make it 2-0 for Bayern as David Luiz reduced it to 2-1 when he fired the ball right at the keeper’s left top corner to keep our hope alive. Not very common in football, the Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer stepped up to test his fellow keeper on the spot kick and he didn’t disappoint despite Petr Cech diving to the ball’s direction to made the score line 3-1. Nerves were high, you could feel it presence like a shadow of death. The players at the middle of the pitch all lined in parallel their hands on their neighbour’s shoulder likewise coaching crew. Frank Lampard went for power shot that went beyond the goal keeper on the roof of the middle of goal post to reduce it to 3-2. Ivica Olic sloppy shot in the direction Cech dived was palmed out comfortably to bring the hope alive, third luck in a single match. Ashley Cole left footed kick into the bottom right to restore our hope to 3-3 at piece. The noise roared from both sections of the fan base for the equalization and miss. I was struggling to hold my peace at this point but held on until it’s over. Oh my God as a fell on my knees. Schweinteiger’s shot just beat the keeper but unlikely for him the ball kissed the woodwork and bounced out behind Peter Cech. It was a game over at this juncture. I left my seat and ran to the exit door waiting for the final moment to book my flight ticket to heavens.
Deciding penalty
Unlike the 2008 finals that John Terry was the last to kick the ball and give us the trophy, it was again, Didier Drogba who has been the good and bad of the game. He was the last man on the referee’s list to take the penalty. If there was a place as quiet as graveyard at that final seconds he placed the ball on the sport kick, Allianz Arena was that place. One could hear the sound of a needle landing of the floor. He stepped back, he knew it was a make or mare decision. Javen made his mind the angle to place the ball, Drogba buried the ball at the right corner beating Neuer to the left and they you have Allianz Arena shaken to its foundation with celebration. The players at center of the pitch surged for, falling on the floor and rolling over each other. The fans section was in tumour of jubilation. Parents hugging their kids, men their girl friends, friend their friends and neighbours. I was witnessing this as l ran 100 meters in less than 10 seconds across the street with others rejoicing as we sang the Chelsea anthem for those that knew it.
Chelsea Anthem
Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together, and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
'Cause Chelsea, Chelsea is our name
Drogba; The Hero and Man of the Match
Drogba 34 years was the night hero as he swirled his shirt over his head throughout the length and breathe of Allianz Arena after which suspended captain John Terry joined the celebration alongside Frank Lampard to lift the trophy under interim young Italian manager Roberto Di Matteo. Drogba ran with trophy as he changed gear demostrating with his hand while Ivanovic was at the other enjoying the camera men attention as he mounted the goal post. Two teams, one trophy. 35 attempts on goal against 9, 20 corner kicks against 1(resulting to goal), 1 yellow card against 4, was unbelievable statistics at 1-1 score line and the best team lost. I could see the Bayern players laying flat of the pitch crying their eyes out. It was heart breaking.
The victory ultimately made Chelsea the fifth English club to lift the trophy and first London club as well. This win meant a lot to the team as fans as it not only earned them in UEFA Champion League the next season displacing fellow London Club Tottenham for the top four teams to represent premier league in the tournament but becoming our greatest glory in 107 years. At watching our dear team given the trophy, all the blues army at the view centre went of street gyration or walk singing and jubilation about 10 pm local time till the next morning.
Conclusion
The memories of the event in Allianz Arena, the cold and chilled malaise, the touting from antagonistic fans, the ultimate triumph at all odds, the mid night street celebration, the talk of the next day, the emerging of Chelsea to elite club, the voice a lost shouting and undeletable mental pictures and nightmares of Alllianz Arena made it my favourites stadium of all times. You may need to know that I still play the video of that made depicting this stadium every now and then.
This is my entry for scorum contest about my favourite stadium and I hope this contest will go a long way to spies up the platform in all sphere as we keep hope on the vision and roadmap of the scorum team to make this project worth while in the long run.
Thanks fot reading
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