21st May 2005, my 20th birthday and Manchester United play Arsenal in the FA Cup Final. After a tight game Arsenal go on to win on penalties and I'm gutted.
3 years later and I find out that the UEFA Champions League final is on my 23rd birthday. I knew then that United would make it to the final, and this time its Chelsea in the way.
We started well, dominating the first half and in the 26th minute Cristiano Ronaldo gives us the lead with his 42nd goal of an amazing season.
We miss several chances after that to go further ahead and almost inevitably Chelsea equalise right at the end of the first half through Frank Lampard.
1-1 is the score at half-time and at full-time as Chelsea dominate the second half but fail to score a winner. So into extra-time we went as both teams come close to scoring another but then after 115 mins, Chelsea's Didier Drogba was sent off for slapping Nemanja Vidic.
For me this was bad omens. Back in 2005, Arsenal had Jose Reyes sent off at almost the same exact time and held on till penalties and then won. Chelsea also held on for what little time was left and onto penalties we went with me fearing the worst.
When Cristiano Ronaldo missed our 3rd penalty I thought it was all over, but Chelsea went onto miss two penalties themselves to hand Man United their 3rd Champions League title!
And that basically defined whether I had a good 23rd birthday or not! :D