United vs Real Madrid: Was it? Wasn't it? What of it?

Nani saw a controversial red card in the second half. (AP Photo)

Ok.  Let's cut right to it, no match review.  If you're a soccer fan, you've probably already seen the play multiple times.  If you haven't, you will.  I can't imagine anything happening in the rest of the soccer week that is going to dislodge this as the number one talking point or banter topic.  Indeed, should Real Madrid go on to win the Champions League, this could go down as the defining moment of the European season.

So, Nani saw red.  Was it justified?  If you really haven't seen it yet, he went in with a high boot while challenging Madrid's Alvaro Arbeola.  Now, I don't think even most Madrid fans would honestly think that was a red card, but I could be wrong.  I didn't think it was.  I'm not a referee, so I'm not going to get into the detail and argue the laws of the game.  There was quite the twitter conversation about Law 12, but in the end, I was hard pressed to see any player or prominent media personality that agreed with the call.  You see that play most often called as a yellow, hardly ever a red.

Now, I do say "hardly ever" because I've seen it.  Last year RSL Captain Kyle Beckerman saw red for a very similar challenge against a Tauro FC player.  Of course, astute supporters will point out that for Beckerman, the issue was intent.  Even as an RSL fan, I believe that Kyle wanted to kick the Tauro player, and I don't think Nani had that intent, so there's that.  I think it was a yellow on Nani.

So what happened after that?  Jose Mourinho out-managed Sir Alex, that's what.  The substitutions were key.  Luka Modric was the right man at exactly the right time.  His equalizer goal was outstanding, and Ronaldo's finish of Higuain's low cross was absolute class.  Diego Lopez also came up huge in goal for Madrid at the end.

What of United though?  Where was Chicharito?  Why did Rooney start the game on the bench?  United might just need RVP to subdue the Premier League, but the Champion's League is a different story.  Keep in mind, no United player scored in this one.  Their goal was an own goal by Sergio "I drop trophies and miss PKs" Ramos.  I really didn't see United catch fire until they went behind.  They were somewhat relying on that road goal as their trump, and they got burned for it.  Still, in the final analysis, it's too bad that we're talking about the ref and not the players.

Again: My take: Yellow Card, not red.  Do I feel for United?  Hell no.  Wanna see why?

So United, enjoy your turn on the wrong end of the decision for once.  Karma's a bitch, huh?  Not so funny now.