Sports Galore - Post Mortem

For those who have no idea what this post mortem article is all about, the brief explanation goes like this; there was a period of time starting from May 2012 till August 2012 which was full of sporting event which I anticipated with a lot of eagerness. I watched all these events and also had my very own prediction of what might the results be and also what results that I wanted. If you still have no idea what I am talking about, just check out the previous article here, Sports Galore. Well let’s get started with the post mortem one by one according the sporting events mentioned before.

English Premier League - Judgement Day (13/05/2012)

The title challenge came down to the wire between both the Manchester clubs in the most thrilling ending of the English Premier League history. Tied with the same amount of points, Manchester City had the upper hand with the goal difference and will go on to win the title if they manage to secure all 3 points in the Etihad Stadium against Queen Parks Rangers, unless Manchester United manages to register a win against Sunderland and turn around a 8 goal difference which is highly unlikely to happen.

Well things didn’t go well for the Blue Half of Manchester as they were trailing 2-1 with around 5 more minutes to go and the Red Devils were leading by 1-0. As the clock ticked down, Edin Dzeko managed to pull one back to bring things to level. But a draw wouldn’t be sufficient to get their hands on the trophy. The final whistle blew at the Manchester United game, the players and fans were excited, 1 more minute left at Etihad and title number 20 will be theirs. Then came the biggest turn around in Premier League history as Sergio Aguero blasted the ball pass the QPR keeper to make the score 3-2.

A moment of shock, it took a few seconds for everything to register clearly. The Red Devils had the title in their hands for around 50 seconds and then in a split second it was gone. After 44 years, Manchester City had won the Premier League title. Celebrations erupted in Etihad Stadium. It was over, the season had come to an end; a thrilling end and Manchester United was left disappointed. They would have to wait one more year for their 20^th title. 

Factual Result: Both Manchester clubs secure a win. Manchester City crowned EPL champions after 44 years.
Hopeful Result: Manchester City drops points against QPR. Manchester United become EPL champions for the 20th time.


On to the relegation battle between QPR and Bolton Wanderers; as stated above QPR had lost their match so it all depended on Bolton’s result to see who stays and who goes. And despite dropping the points, QPR managed to stay in the Premier League as Bolton failed to register a win. So, Owen Coyle and his team were going down to the Championships.

Factual Result: Both teams drop points and QPR stays in the EPL.
Hopeful Result: QPR nicks a draw or win in Etihad Stadium to stay up and hand the title to the Red Devils at the same time.


Besides the title, the Champions League spot was also played for in the last day with Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle all having chances to qualify. One team will be left disappointed as there were only two more places up for grabs and maybe it will be more than one in case Chelsea are crowned champions against Bayern Munich in the Champions League finals. Arsenal and Tottenham had their fate in their own hands as securing a win will promise a top 4 finish, meanwhile Newcastle needed to register a win and hope either one of the other teams to drop points.

Well at the end for the day, Arsenal and Tottenham both secured wins and went on to finish in the top 4 but unfortunately Tottenham were left to rue their fate as their qualifying spot was given to Chelsea when The Blues were crowned Champions of Europe.

Factual Result: Arsenal and Tottenham win to qualify for Champions League.
Hopeful Result: Tottenham and Newcastle qualify for Champions League. Arsenal misses out but gives chance to Arsene Wenger to focus more on the league next year and challenge for the title. Also chances for younger Gunners to show their worth in the Europa League.
Unpredicted result: Arsenal and Tottenham secure qualification. Chelsea nick Tottenham’s place with their Champions League victory.


Champions League Final - Bayern Munich vs Chelsea (19/05/2012)

This year saw Bayern Munich go against Chelsea to be crowned Champions of Europe. Chelsea had a horrendous season this year by missing out on a top 4 finish for the first time since the last 9 years. Their season was also marred by the unsettled turmoil in the changing room and saw the departure of AVB. But caretaker manager, Roberto Di Matteo had initiated the resurgence of Chelsea by leading them to two cup finals. Having secured the FA Cup, Chelsea's eyes were set upon the coveted Champions League trophy which has been Roman Abramovich's dream ever since he bought over the Blues. The Champions League had eluded Roman for the past one decade and this year might be the year he finally gets his hands on it.

Bayern Munich also had a less than satisfying season. They lost the Bundesliga by an 8 points difference to Borussia Dortmund. To add salt to the wound, Bayern lost the DFB-Pokal final to Borussia Dortmund with a scoreline of 5-2. Having lost their chances to secure a cup for this season on two accounts, the Champions League was the last chance for them to finish the season with a trophy. Having the home advantage as the finals will be played in the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich were set to avoid a trophyless season.

Well at the end it was Chelsea who managed to pull through as champions. It was a tight match throughout the whole game, until the 83^rd minute when Tomas Muller put one pass Petr Cech. With around 10 minutes to go, Bayern Munich was set to lift the trophy. But it wasn’t meant to be as in the 88^th minute Chelsea put a blow in Bayern’s dream as they scored the equaliser and who else to do it then the Blue’s player who always delivers in big matches, Didier Drogba.

The match went on to extra time and the score remained 1-1 until the final whistle blew. It was to be decided with the penalties. Chelsea had the bad start as their first penalty taker, Juan Mata missed right after Philip Lahm had scored Bayern’s first. The rest scored in successions; Gomez, David Luiz, Neuer and Lampard. With Bayern leading 3-2, Ivica Olic stepped up and missed. Ashley Cole didn’t make any mistakes and the scores were level. Bayern’s fifth was their talismanic player, Bastian Schweinsteiger and he would go on regret this dreddful day as he missed his penalty. It was Didier Drogba who stepped up next. If he scored, Chelsea would win and score he did.

Chelsea were champions of the first time ever in their club history and Roman Abramovich’s dream was finally fulfilled.

Factual Result: Bayern Munich nicks a close win in front of the home crowd.
Hopeful Result: Bayern Munich wins to ignite their resurgence for next season.
Unpredicted Result: Chelsea wins the Champions League to the first time in the club’s history.


Thomas Cup 2012 (20/05/2012 - 27/05/2012)

The Thomas Cup this year was hosted by China in Wuhan. The last we won the Thomas Cup was in 1992 when Cheah Soon Kiat and Soo Beng Kiang secured the last point which was needed to get our hands on the cup. After 1992, the closest we ever came to clinching the trophy once again was in 1994, 1998 and 2002 where we finished as runner-up by losing to Indonesia in all three accounts.

Losing Lee Chong Wei to injury, Malaysia had an early exit as they were up against China in the quarter final stage. The rest of the players put up a strong fight yet we were disposed by China 3-0 who went on to win the title once again.

Factual Result: China wins the Thomas Cup for the 5th time in a row.
Hopeful Result: Malaysian squad pulls a surprise win and comes back home as Heroes.


French Open 2012 - Les internationaux de France de Roland-Garros (27/05/2012 - 10/06/2012)

The three way battle for the Grand Slam title between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic is upon us once again with Andy Murray providing challenge from time to time. But the French Open clay court plays advantage to the reigning King of Clay, Rafael Nadal. Having won the title 6 times, equalling Bjorn Borg's record, Rafael Nadal was set to surpass that record.

Novak Djokovic after losing to Nadal in the Monte Carlo open finals wanted to avenge his defeat and prove that he is worthy of the world number 1 title in all type of courts. He also wanted to break his drought of not having ever won the French Open title. Another player set to break his spell of not having a Grand Slam title was Andy Murray.

One player which you can never put aside is Roger Federer who is considered the greatest player to embrace the game of tennis. Looking to add to his 16 Grand Slams title, Federer wanted to win the French Open which he has only manage to win once making the French Open his least successful Slam. It has been 2 years since Federer won his last Slam, the 2010 Australian Open and the closest he has ever come to winning another Slam after that was the 2011 French Open, but this might be the Slam that "The Emperor" makes his comeback.

It was Rafael Nadal who won the title beating Novak Djokovic in the finals, 6-4, 6-3, 2-6 and 7-5. It was a tight match, but Nadal prevailed once again.

Factual Result: Rafael Nadal wins his 7th French Open title.
Hopeful Result: Roger Federer wins his 17th Grand Slam title.


UEFA Euro 2012 (08/06/2012 - 01/07/2012)

The UEFA Euro was back after Spain won it the last time in 2006. Spain were looking to retain the cup since no nations has won it in a back-to-back tournaments before. Spain wanted to make it their third win of the tournaments. Germany the strong hold of European football was also a top contender to win. England under the new management of Roy Hodgson had a lot to prove since they didn't qualify for the previous tournament. Netherlands had an amazing record during the qualifying rounds and the EPL top scorer RVP was set to achieve the same in this tournament. Besides team victory, a personal agenda was looming with the name of Cristiano Ronaldo. He is the only person standing between Messi and his 4th World Player of the Year Award.

Well Spain did go on to reach the finals and were crowned champions beating Italy in the finals. Netherlands had a bitter tournament crashing out in the group stages. England crashed out in the quarters and Portugal went out in the semi finals. Cristiano had a good tournament none the less but it wasn’t enough. The Germans suffered in the hands of Italy in the semis being unable to break their terrible record against the Italians. At the end it was Spain who was champions once again.

Factual Result: Favourites to win the tournament; Spain, Germany or Netherlands.
Hopeful Result: England wins the tournament to end their fan's years and years of disappointment or Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal wins the tournament and of course he bags the Golden Boot too en route.


Wimbledon 2012 (25/06/2012 - 08/07/2012)

The tennis giants were back on the grass court after the clay court Grand Slam. The statistics in Wimbledon will have a slight twist in comparison with Roland Garros. Novak Djokovic was out to retain his title. Roger Federer's win would tie him with Pete Sampras as the player with the most Wimbledon Singles title. Rafael Nadal who has only won the title once wanted to add to it. Andy Murray was in line to win his first Grand Slam also. Yet, it was the “Emperor of Tennis” who went on to claim his 17^th Grand Slam title beating Andy Murray in the finals, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and 6-4.

Factual Result: Novak Djokovic to retain the title.
Hopeful Result: Roger Federer wins to equal Pete Sampras record.


Olympics - London 2012 (27/07/2012 - 12/08/2012)

The Summer Olympics was back after 4 years. Being a Malaysian, my full focus was on the badminton court. The Olympic Gold medal had eluded our country ever since its conception. We came close to winning it on two occasions, Cheah Soon Kit - Yap Kim Hock losing out in the Men Doubles finals to Rexy Mainacky - Ricky Subagja in Atlanta 1996 and Dato' Lee Chong Wei losing out in the Men Singles final to Lin Dan in Beijing 2008.

And this year it eluded us once again, as our Dato’ Lee Chong Wei went down to Lin Dan 21-15, 10-21 and 19-21. But it was a hard fought battle. He gave it his all, but it wasn’t meant to be. Nevertheless, the country was immensely proud of Dato’ Lee Chong Wei and he will forever be in our nations heart.

Factual Result: Only for badminton - Lin Dan wins Gold again.
Hopeful Result: Only for badminton - Dato' Lee wins the Gold and surprise package Koo Kien Keat - Tan Boon Heong win the Gold also giving Malaysia double victory and 1 day public holiday or maybe 2.


Looks like most of the listed hopeful results did not appear to realize. In an unlisted hopeful result; Maria Sharapova won the Roland Garros title completing her career Grand Slam. Well, a week after Summer Olympics, the football season kicked off as usual even though it wasn’t a good start for the Red Devils who went on to lose their opening match against Everton. But there will be 37 more games to go and I’m sure the Red Devils will pick themselves up. The listed sport events had come to an end, even though some of the results were disappointing, it was an enjoyable period of time nevertheless.