A late Happy Vishu everybody. Ring in the Malayalee New Year
Although Vishu is normally celebrated with family and having a tradional lunch of rice + numerous curries + payasam, I decided to say "the hell with tradition" and go to a bar. I had a beer (Royal Challenge is not good, really bitter) a couple of vodka splashed with 7up and a plate of deep fried beef fingers. Not bad.
The UEFA Champions League semifinals are set - AC Milan vs PSV Eindhoven & Chelsea VS Liverpool. This gaurentees that there will be an English club in the final. Liverpool & Juventus dragged out a dull 0-0 draw which meant that the Reds went through on a 2-1 aggregate. It seemed like Liverpool went to defende the narrow one goal lead that they held from the first leg at home. This match at Turin was as boring as the other was exciting. PSV on the other hand had a marathon match with French league leaders Lyon, drawing the regluar match 1-1 and tieing the leg 2-2. Top scorers in this season’s Champions League, Lyon took an early lead at the Philips Stadion when ex-Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord applied the decisive finish to an incisive attack after ten minutes. But the sides appeared evenly matched and five minutes after the break PSV drew level when Brazilian defender Alex brought down Erical Abidal’s clearance from a floated free-kick by Mark van Bommel and volleyed the ball superbly past Gregory Coupet in the Lyon Hence we went to extra time, but nothing could seperate the two. In the latter stages it was Eindhoven who seemed the more likely to score and they seemed to dominate parts of the match. When 30 minutes of extra time went scoreless it went to the dreaded penalty shoot out. PSV goalie Gomes saved two shots by the Lyon players taking his team thru to the semis to face giants Milan. The standout player for this match was PSV's captain Mark Van Bommel, who was superb in midfield. Everyone's tipping for a Chelsea vs Milan final and I think that it's a 50-50 in that match. Milan really are the team to beat, despite what the Chelsea faithful may think. But it's a superb chance for the Blues.
Babe of the week - MOLLY PARKER
Song for the day - "Figured You Out" - NICKELBACK Dedicated to new Nickelback drummer Daniel Adair