The game is over. Barcelona wins 3-1 over Arsenal at Camp Nou.
Second Half Highlights/Lowlights:
(H) 52nd minute: Busquets heads the ball into his own net flat-footing Valdes. We are at 1-1.
(L) 55th minute: Van Persie is sent off for a second yellow card for kicking the ball wide of the goal after the flag went up and the whistle blew for off sides. The Arsenal striker argues he did not hear the whistle and points to the roaring Camp Nou crowd by way of explanation. Fox Soccer analysts quickly have their technical staff calculate the time from the blown whistle to the red-carding kick--one minute! Frankly, a poor call in any game. Much worse has gone unpunished.
(H) 68th minute: Iniesta dribles past three Arsenal players and passes to a standing Villa who one-times a pass to the streaking Xavi whose shot barely evades a sliding tackle and Almunia's dive. Goal. We are at 2-1.
(H) 71st minute: Koscielny brings Pedro down inside the area and the referee gives the clear penalty. Messi walks up to the ball and freezes Almunia with a well placed ball to the lower left of the keeper. Goal. We are at 3-1. If the score remains Barcelona are through.
(H) 77th minute: Almunia saves off of Messi.
(H) 80th & 83rd: Almunia save after save after save. Barcelona are ahead and one man up and they seem to feel they need to force the issue.
(H/L) 90th: We have four minutes of stoppage and somehow, even with the score as it is, the game seems undecided. Arsenal do not seem beat and Barcelona seem to know they are only safe with another score.
94th...it's over.
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