2004–05 Luxembourg National Division, Team changes for 2005–06 season
After the 2004–05 season ended, the two relegated clubs, Spora Luxembourg and Union Luxembourg, went ahead with the pre-arranged amalgamation with CS Alliance 01, another National Division club based in Luxembourg City. The new club, Racing FC Union Luxembourg, took Alliance 01's place in the National Division, leaving no teams to be relegated to the Division of Honour.


2004–05 Macedonian First Football League
The 2004–05 Macedonian First League was the 13th season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of Macedonia. The first matches of the season were played on 8 August 2004 and the last on 29 May 2005. Pobeda were the defending champions, having won their second title. The 2004-05 champions were Rabotnichki who had won their first title.


2004–05 Macedonian First Football League, Results
Every team will play three times against each other team for a total of 33 matches. The first 22 matchdays will consist of a regular double round-robin schedule. The league standings at this point will then be used to determine the games for the last 11 matchdays.


2004–05 Macedonian Football Cup
The 2004–05 Macedonian Football Cup was the 13th season of Macedonia's football knockout competition. FK Sloga Jugomagnat were the defending champions, having won their third title. The 2004–05 champions were FK Bashkimi who won their first title.


2004–05 Macedonian Football Cup, Second round
The first legs were played on 22 September and second were played on 27 October 2004.


2004–05 Macedonian Football Cup, Quarter-finals
The first legs were played on 1 December 2004 and second were played on 22 March 2005.


2004–05 Macedonian Football Cup, Semi-finals
The first legs were played on 6 April and the second on 4 May 2005.


2004–05 Macedonian Second Football League
The 2004–05 Macedonian Second Football League was the thirteenth season since its establishment. It began on 7 August 2004 and ended on 28 May 2005.


2004–05 Magyar Kupa
The 2004–05 Magyar Kupa (English: Hungarian Cup) is the 65th season of Hungary's annual knock-out cup football competition.


2004–05 Maltese First Division
The 2004–05 Maltese First Division (known as the MIA First Division for sponsorship reasons) started on 5 September 2004 and finished on 15 May 2005.


2004–05 Maltese First Division
Ħamrun Spartans were promoted back to the Premier League after just one season away, following their relegation alongside Balzan Youths in the 2003–04 Premier League season. Mosta joined Ħamrun in securing place in the Premier League. Balzan suffered a consecutive relegation, and alongside Gozo were relegated to the 2005–06 Second Division.


2004–05 Maltese Premier League
The 2003–04 Maltese Premier League (known as the MIA Premier League for sponsorship reasons) was the 25th season of the Maltese Premier League, and the 90th season of top-tier football in Malta. The league started on 7 September 2004 and finished on 8 May 2005. Sliema Wanderers successfully defended last season's league triumph, surpassing Floriana's league title record of 25 championships.


2004–05 Maltese Premier League, Teams
The following teams were promoted from the First Division at the start of the season:


2004–05 Maltese Premier League, Teams
From the previous Premier League season, the following teams were relegated to the First Division:


2004–05 Maltese Premier League, Second round, Championship Pool
The teams placed in the first six positions in the league table qualified for the Championship Pool, and the points obtained during the first round were halved (and rounded up) before the start of second round. As a result, the teams started with the following points before the second round: Sliema Wanderers 21 points, Valletta 18, Hibernians 18, Birkirkara 17, Marsaxlokk 15 and Floriana 13.


2004–05 Maltese Premier League, Second round, Relegation Pool
The teams which finished in the last four league positions were placed in the Relegation Pool and at the end of the round the two lowest-placed teams were relegated to the First Division. The points obtained during the first round were halved (and rounded up) before the start of second round. As a result, the teams started with the following points before the second round: Pietà Hotspurs 10 points, Msida Saint-Joseph 8, St. Patrick 5, Lija Athletic 4.


2004–05 Maltese Second Division
The 2004–05 Maltese Second Division started on 25 September 2004 and ended on 9 May 2005.


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season
The 2004–05 season was Manchester City Football Club's third consecutive season playing in the Premier League, the top division of English football, and its eighth season since the Premier League was first created with Manchester City as one of its original 22 founding member clubs. Overall, it was the team's 113th season playing in a division of English football, most of which have been spent in the top flight.


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season, Players, First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season, Players, Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season, Team kit
The team kit was produced by Reebok and the shirt sponsor was Thomas Cook.


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season, Historical league performance
Prior to this season, the history of Manchester City's performance in the English football league hierarchy since the creation of the Premier League in 1992 is summarised by the following timeline chart – which commences with the last season (1991–92) of the old Football League First Division (from which the Premier League was formed).


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season, Pre-season, Premier League, Results summary
Last updated: 15 May 2005 (end of season). Source: Premier League results 2004–05


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season, Pre-season, Premier League, Points breakdown
Points against "Big Four" teams: 9Points against promoted teams: 11


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season, Pre-season, Premier League, Biggest & smallest
Biggest home wins: 4–0 vs. Charlton Athletic, 28 August 2004Biggest home defeat: 0–2 vs. Manchester United, 13 February 2005 Biggest away win: 1–3 vs. Portsmouth, 20 November 2004 Biggest away defeat: 2–0 vs. West Bromwich Albion, 22 January 2005 Biggest home attendance: 47,221 vs. Middlesbrough, 15 May 2005 Smallest home attendance: 42,453 vs. Birmingham City, 20 April 2005 Biggest away attendance: 67,863 vs. Manchester United, 7 November 2004 Smallest away attendance: 20,101 vs. Portsmouth, 20 November 2004


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season, Playing statistics
Information current as of 15 May 2005 (end of season)


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season, Playing statistics
Last updated: 26 February 2011. Source: (for appearances, goals and discipline stats.) All match Reports in Competitive games section above


2004–05 Manchester City F.C. season, Playing statistics, Goalscorers, League Cup and FA Cup
Information current as of 15 May 2005 (end of season)


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season
The 2004–05 season was Manchester United's 13th season in the Premier League, and their 30th consecutive season in the top division of English football.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season
The season finished trophyless (only their fourth trophyless season in 17 seasons) for United, who finished third in the Premier League with 77 points. The title went to Chelsea, who finished the season with a record 95 points and lost just one game all season, with the previous season's champions Arsenal finishing runners-up.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season
Their Champions League campaign ended in the first knockout round at Milan, while they were eliminated from the League Cup by Chelsea in the semi-finals. The last chance of silverware was blown by a Paul Scholes penalty miss against Arsenal in a shoot-out after a goalless draw in the 2005 FA Cup Final.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season
On a more positive note for the club, newly signed 19-year-old striker and leading club goalscorer Wayne Rooney was voted PFA Young Player of the Year.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season
United also ended Arsenal's record-breaking 49-game unbeaten league run with a 2–0 home win in late October.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, Pre-season and friendlies
Manchester United played their first pre-season fixture of the 2004–05 season away to Cobh Ramblers. United won 2–1, through goals from Mads Timm and Kenny Cooper.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, Pre-season and friendlies
The Reds then set off to North America for their pre-season tour, taking part in the ChampionsWorld Series. Their first match, played at the Soldier Field in Chicago, United States against Bayern Munich. After a 0–0 draw, the match went to penalties, with Bayern prevailing 4–2 in the shoot-out. United's next game of their pre-season tour was against Celtic at the Lincoln Financial Field. Chris Sutton gave Celtic an early lead with a penalty after Jonathan Spector fouled Stiliyan Petrov. Alan Smith equalised for United with a header from a corner kick, but Craig Beattie scored the winner for Celtic after Roy Keane lost possession.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, Pre-season and friendlies
After the 2–1 loss against Celtic, United played their final game of the tour against Milan in New York City. Like the Bayern game, the game against Milan ended in a draw, after Andriy Shevchenko cancelled out Paul Scholes' early goal. Penalties were required, with United losing again, this time 9–8. The result meant that Manchester United ended their pre-season tour of the United States without a win.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, Pre-season and friendlies
After returning to England, United played in the Vodafone Cup at Old Trafford, a four-team tournament featuring PSV, Boca Juniors and Urawa Red Diamonds. United played against PSV on 3 August 2004, a Mikaël Silvestre goal giving them a 1–0 win. Two days later, United were scheduled to play their final game, against Urawa Red Diamonds, but it was indefinitely postponed due to an electrical storm. Boca Juniors – who were beating PSV 1–0 on the day, before the abandonment of their match – won the tournament on a points system that awarded an extra point for each goal scored, bolstered by their 5–2 win against Urawa Red Diamonds a few days prior.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, Pre-season and friendlies
Two days after the league campaign started, United played their final friendly, a trip to Lancashire rivals Burnley for Stan Ternent's testimonial. Goals from Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, and Chris Eagles secured a 3–1 win.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Community Shield
As winners of the 2003–04 FA Cup, Manchester United played in the 2004 FA Community Shield against Arsenal. United lost 3–1. José Antonio Reyes set up Gilberto Silva to tap home the opening goal for the Gunners. Alan Smith lashed in United's equaliser, but within three minutes Reyes drove home a fierce left-foot shot to restore Arsenal's lead. Ashley Cole's cross deflected in off Mikaël Silvestre for Arsenal's winning third goal.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
Manchester United opened their Premier League campaign with an away game against Chelsea on 15 August 2004. United lost 1–0 through an Eiður Guðjohnsen goal in the 14th minute. The Icelandic striker took advantage of a weak challenge by United goalkeeper Tim Howard to scramble home the winner after 14 minutes. It was harsh on Alex Ferguson's depleted side, who enjoyed the majority of possession but could not cash in. Summer signing Alan Smith headed wide from a good chance and Ryan Giggs missed a similar opportunity with 10 minutes left as Chelsea hung on. This result left United hanging just above the relegation zone in 17th place.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
United got their first win of the season with a 2–1 win against Norwich City at Old Trafford. Alan Smith scored the winner in the 49th minute on his home debut for the Red Devils with a volley that added to David Bellion's close-range finish in the 32nd minute that was set up by Smith. Norwich substitute Paul McVeigh pulled a goal back late on when he shot home from 18 yards out but United held on.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
After a 1–1 draw against Blackburn Rovers, which saw Smith score a last-minute equaliser, United's next game was a home game against Everton. United hit the post three times in the match. Cristiano Ronaldo hit the upright with a fizzing drive, as did Smith with a similar effort, and Paul Scholes also saw a shot come back off the post. But United were lucky not to concede a penalty when Mikaël Silvestre blatantly used his arm to clear the ball from a lurking Duncan Ferguson. In the first half, Louis Saha missed a great chance when he headed wide. It was the only clear-cut opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, with United lacking the cohesion to break down an Everton side content to sit deep and defend.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
A third successive draw occurred for United, as they drew 2–2 with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. United got an equaliser in injury time through David Bellion, with the ball appearing to come off his arm. Before Bellion's dramatic equaliser, United seemed set to lose after a mix-up between Tim Howard and Mikaël Silvestre allowed Les Ferdinand to net. Ferdinand's goal came after Kevin Nolan had equalised for Bolton, heading home after his initial shot was blocked. Gabriel Heinze gave United a first-half lead on his debut, but it was not the perfect start he may have expected. This result left United in 11th place.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
On 20 September, United moved up three places in the FA Premier League table to 8th after a 2–1 home win against their rivals, Liverpool. After Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post early on, Mikaël Silvestre gave United the lead, ghosting in at the far post to head home Ryan Giggs' free kick. Liverpool drew level soon after the break when Steve Finnan's header was inadvertently turned in by fellow Irishman John O'Shea. But another header from Silvestre secured three points for United, as the Frenchman powered a header past Jerzy Dudek to complete his brace and give United the win.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
Five days later, United travelled to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspur. Ruud van Nistelrooy's penalty three minutes before the interval ensured the Red Devils won consecutive FA Premier League matches for the first time in the 2004–05 season, went up to fifth in the table, and ended Spurs' unbeaten run. Van Nistelrooy, who had a goal ruled out for offside, converted after Erik Edman had fouled John O'Shea. Robbie Keane made a superb block to deny Mikaël Silvestre, and Paul Robinson saved a David Bellion header as United pushed for a second.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
After a 1–1 home draw with Middlesbrough, United went up to fourth place in the Premier League table, the first time they had been in the top four in the 2004–05 season. But United went down two places to 6th after a 0–0 draw away to Birmingham City. It was a well-deserved point for Birmingham. Steve Bruce's side had chances to win, with United goalkeeper Roy Carroll denying Emile Heskey with his legs either side of the interval. United, with Wayne Rooney on the bench, rarely troubled Birmingham, but Van Nistelrooy missed the game's best opportunity after 36 minutes. He side-footed straight at goalkeeper Maik Taylor from only six yards as he raced on to Quinton Fortune's cross.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
United's next game was a home game against Arsenal. United won 2–0. The match, played on 24 October 2004, is known as the Battle of the Buffet, and it ended Arsenal 49-match unbeaten run. Van Nistelrooy got the opener when he stroked in a contentious penalty after Sol Campbell's challenge on Wayne Rooney. Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry had Arsenal's best chances but they were denied by good saves from United keeper Roy Carroll. Rooney slotted in from six yards to complete victory on his 19th birthday. The win helped United reduce the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to eight points. It also helped Van Nistelrooy avenge the taunts from Arsenal players after he missed a last-minute spot-kick in the corresponding fixture last season. United went up to 5th with this win.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
United travelled to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth in their next game. It was a shock 2–0 win for Pompey. United paid the price for failing to convert any of their many chances. United had laid siege to the home side's goal early on but Pompey survived and hit back after the break. David Unsworth put them ahead from the spot after Rio Ferdinand tugged back Ricardo Fuller in the area. Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post with a header as United piled on the pressure but Yakubu finished them off when his shot deflected in off Mikaël Silvestre. It was Pompey's second successive Premier League victory over United at Fratton Park - but it looked unlikely in the early stages.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
Manchester United played at home to their rivals Manchester City on 7 November 2004. The game ended 0–0. United were shut out for the second successive Premier League game by a resolute and determined City side, who offered little of an attacking threat. City survived some erratic handling from David James, while Louis Saha scorned United's best chance, heading wide from six yards. United's Alan Smith was sent off for a second bookable offence.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
United travelled to St James' Park to face Newcastle United in their next FA Premier League game. Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert went close for Newcastle before Wayne Rooney volleyed home Darren Fletcher's cross. Shearer eventually levelled the scores with a superb individual goal after dispossessing Wes Brown. But Van Nistelrooy scored from the spot after Shay Given fouled Paul Scholes and then Rooney slotted home from close range to seal victory. The result left United in seventh place, nine points behind Arsenal and eleven behind Chelsea.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
Following a 2–0 win over Charlton Athletic, in which veterans Giggs and Scholes scored, United travelled to The Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion on 27 November. The Baggies began confidently, but were rocked by first-half injuries to Darren Moore and Cosmin Contra, forcing Bryan Robson into a double change. United broke through on 53 minutes when Scholes latched onto Giggs' back-heel and lashed home a fierce shot. Van Nistelrooy's close-range header made it 2-0, before Scholes nodded in a third.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
A week after the win at The Hawthorns, United welcomed Southampton to Old Trafford. United laboured to break down a stubborn Southampton defence in a goalless first half. But Paul Scholes ended the resistance by heading home from close range early in the second half. Wayne Rooney then finished emphatically from Ryan Giggs' pass before Cristiano Ronaldo volleyed the third. With the win over the Saints, United got a fourth consecutive victory in the FA Premier League.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
After a 1–1 draw against Fulham, next up against United were Crystal Palace, who travelled to Old Trafford to face United on 18 December 2004. Wayne Rooney missed a penalty for United but Paul Scholes fired in an angled shot to put them ahead. Danny Granville poked in an effort to equalise before United's Alan Smith and rival Joonas Kolkka traded headers to leave the match poised at 2-2. But Emmerson Boyce's own goal, a skilful Scholes strike and John O'Shea's shot rounded off the win.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
United faced Bolton Wanderers at home in their next game, played on Boxing Day. United won 2–0. Ryan Giggs scored after just 10 minutes showing exemplary technique to steer the ball into the corner of the net. United struggled to build on the platform of their early goal, Paul Scholes making the game safe with a low shot. If Bolton were able to disrupt United's attacking rhythm for long periods, they proved less successful in troubling Roy Carroll, who had to make just one save.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
Manchester United ended 2004 with a 1–0 away win over Aston Villa on 28 December. Ryan Giggs' left-foot strike in the 41st minute was enough to separate the teams after an entertaining encounter. Giggs had already forced a great save from Thomas Sørensen before his goal, although at the other end, Lee Hendrie and Liam Ridgewell saw shots saved. Villa pressed after the break and Gareth Barry came close, but Alan Smith hit the bar in the final minute.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
United opened 2005 with a 2–0 away win over Middlesbrough on New Year's Day. Darren Fletcher slid the ball in after nine minutes when Mark Schwarzer was only able to parry a cross from Ryan Giggs. Before the goal, Cristiano Ronaldo had drawn an instinctive save from the Boro keeper as well as hitting the woodwork. Late on Giggs wrapped up the points when he pounced on Eric Djemba-Djemba's pass, got in front of Gareth Southgate, before poking the ball past Schwarzer.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
On 4 January, United hosted Tottenham Hotspur in a goalless draw. Minutes before the final whistle, Spurs should have taken the lead after Pedro Mendes' effort from the halfway line was spilled into the goal by an out-of-position Roy Carroll. He pushed the ball out, but only after it had crossed the line; however, the officials were unable to tell whether a goal had been scored and allowed play to continue. United then almost won in the dying seconds as a Gabriel Heinze free-kick was brilliantly saved by Paul Robinson. Earlier, Spurs' Noé Pamarot almost gifted United a goal, sending an attempted clearance against the post.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
Eleven days after the match with Spurs, Manchester United travelled to Anfield to face their rivals Liverpool. United won 1–0, thanks to Wayne Rooney's 21st-minute goal. Jerzy Dudek allowed Rooney's tame 25-yard shot to slide in to gift the former Everton striker a goal in front of The Kop. United deserved their victory, despite having Wes Brown sent off for two bookable offences after 64 minutes. Roy Keane hit the bar, while Fernando Morientes had a quiet debut.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
After a 3–1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, United travelled to Highbury to face Arsenal on 1 February. United won 4–2. Patrick Vieira headed Arsenal ahead from a corner before Ryan Giggs levelled with a deflected shot. Dennis Bergkamp restored Arsenal's lead before two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and a John O'Shea chip ended the Gunners' long unbeaten home record. Mikaël Silvestre was sent off in a fiery game - with Vieira and Roy Keane pulled apart beforehand in the tunnel. The win pushed United up to 2nd in the FA Premier League table, their highest position in the 2004–05 season so far.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
Manchester United stayed second in the Premier League table with a 2–0 home win over Birmingham City. United began promisingly, with Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick saved by Maik Taylor and Ryan Giggs firing wide. Walter Pandiani struck the bar with a ferocious volley as the visitors threatened, while Ronaldo's mis-hit cross also came back off the upright. United captain Roy Keane took advantage of poor defending to put United ahead (his 50th goal for the Red Devils), before Wayne Rooney coolly chipped in to seal the victory.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
For their next game, United travelled crosstown to face rivals Manchester City on 13 February. Wayne Rooney met Gary Neville's cross to the near post with a low shot, which went in via a deflection off Richard Dunne, to put United ahead. Seven minutes later, the unfortunate Dunne hooked a volley over David James' head and into his own net. Steve McManaman wasted City's best chance when he shot wide from three yards in the first half.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
Following a 2–1 home win over Portsmouth, with Wayne Rooney scoring a brace, United travelled to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in the next game, played on 5 March. The 10-man Eagles held the Red Devils to a goalless draw. Vassilis Lakis was sent off for two bookable offences after 63 minutes, but a lacklustre United failed to carve out a winner at Selhurst Park. Palace keeper Gábor Király saved well from Van Nistelrooy either side of the interval, and the Dutchman also wasted two great chances late on. Substitute Rooney was also denied by Király as Palace somehow held on.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
After a 1–0 home victory over Fulham, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the only goal in the 21st minute, Manchester United hosted Blackburn Rovers on 2 April. The game ended as a 0–0 draw, with United's hopes of catching Premier League leaders Chelsea virtually disappearing in a frustrating stalemate. Wayne Rooney and Roy Keane hit the post in the first half as United dominated. Rooney and Mikaël Silvestre, who had a header cleared off the line by Morten Gamst Pedersen, also brought fine saves from Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel. Paul Scholes also missed a glorious chance for United, while Blackburn rarely threatened, with Pedersen heading their best chance wide.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
On 9 April, Manchester United travelled to Carrow Road to face Norwich City. The game ended as a 2–0 win for the Canaries. The game almost certainly ended United's slim title hopes, and kept Norwich's Premier League survival hopes alive. Dean Ashton headed Norwich ahead from David Bentley's free-kick and crossed for Leon McKenzie to volley home. Craig Fleming and Jason Shackell were outstanding in a Canaries defence that thwarted United's subdued strikeforce. The closest the Red Devils came was when Wayne Rooney saw his injury-time shot tipped over by Norwich keeper Robert Green.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
On 20 April, United travelled to Goodison Park to face Everton. United lost 1–0. Duncan Ferguson, who scored Everton's winner in their last league victory over United in 1995, headed home after 54 minutes to sink United. Alex Ferguson's men ended the game in shame as Gary Neville and Paul Scholes were sent off after the break. Neville saw red for kicking the ball at a spectator and Scholes for two fouls.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
Four days after the loss at Everton, Manchester United hosted Newcastle United. The Red Devils won 2–1. Newcastle took a surprise first-half lead when Darren Ambrose pounced on Tim Howard's poor clearance. Wayne Rooney equalised in the 57th minute with a superb volley hit with the outside of his right foot, drawing gasps from the Old Trafford crowd. With time running out, Wes Brown's winner provided another surprise - it was his first goal in 117 league games. The win allowed Manchester United to close the gap on Arsenal to a point, though Arsène Wenger's side had a game in hand.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
For their next game, Manchester United travelled to The Valley to face Charlton Athletic. United won 4–0. Debutant keeper Stephan Andersen made a wonder save to deny Alan Smith, but the Dane then spilled a Wayne Rooney shot, allowing Paul Scholes to fire home. Scholes set up the second, passing to Darren Fletcher who side-footed home. Talal El Karkouri's mistake allowed Smith to add a third, with a Rooney flick sealing a fine win, while late on Charlton's Chris Perry was sent off.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
United hosted West Bromwich Albion in their next game, played on 7 May 2005. The game ended 1–1. Ryan Giggs put United ahead with a free-kick after 20 minutes, fired past injured keeper Russell Hoult. Hoult, who suffered a groin injury, was replaced by Tomasz Kuszczak, who made a string of outstanding saves. The Baggies levelled after 61 minutes from Robert Earnshaw's penalty after John O'Shea fouled Geoff Horsfield.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
For their next game, United hosted Chelsea. The game was played on 10 May 2005, and United lost 3–1. Van Nistelrooy's superb finish from close-range gave United an early lead, though thereafter the home side struggled to break down Chelsea. Tiago produced a wonderful equaliser, surprising Roy Carroll with an arcing shot, while his pass set up Eiður Guðjohnsen, who dinked in the second. Joe Cole added to United's misery, converting a Frank Lampard cross. The win put Chelsea on 94 points with one match to go of their 38-game season, surpassing Manchester United's record total of 92 in 1993–94, which was a 42-game campaign.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Premier League
On 15 May 2005, United travelled to the South Coast to face Southampton for their final 2004–05 FA Premier League game. United won 2–1, ending Southampton's 27-year stay in the top-flight. Saints had started so well, a Graeme Le Saux corner bundled in via the thigh of Manchester United defender John O'Shea. But United responded quickly and O'Shea crossed for Darren Fletcher to head in. Van Nistelrooy pounced to nod home an Alan Smith cross to put United ahead and results elsewhere ensured the Saints finished bottom of the division. The game also meant United finished in third for the second season running.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Cup
The draw for the FA Cup third round took place on 9 December 2005, and Manchester United were given a home tie with Conference National side Exeter City. The game, played on 8 January 2005, ended 0–0, with Exeter producing a magnificent rearguard action to earn a deserved draw. United fielded a weakened side, but Conference Exeter matched the FA Cup holders to set up a lucrative replay. Exeter's former United apprentice Andy Taylor tested goalkeeper Tim Howard and fired a free-kick narrowly off target. United threatened after the break, with substitute Paul Scholes firing only inches wide deep into injury time.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Cup
For the replay, played on 19 January, United travelled to the south coast to face Exeter in the replay. United won 2–0 to spare their blushes, end brave Exeter's resistance, and set up a home tie against Middlesbrough in the Fourth Round. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opener, slipping the ball between Paul Jones' legs after just nine minutes. United wasted a host of chances to make it safe as Jones made some great saves, but Wayne Rooney put the tie beyond doubt late on with a cool finish. Exeter had chances of their own, Sean Devine twice volleying wide and Andy Taylor forcing Tim Howard to save.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Cup
Manchester United marched into the fifth round with a 3–0 win against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on 29 January. John O'Shea put the defending champions in front after 10 minutes from close range. Wayne Rooney then brilliantly lobbed Mark Schwarzer from fully 40 yards after 67 minutes to double United's lead, before firing home a stunning volley with nine minutes left. Boro's best chance came after 31 minutes, but Roy Carroll dived to save well at the feet of Boudewijn Zenden from only eight yards.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Cup
In the fifth round, Manchester United were paired with fellow FA Premier League side Everton. The game, played on 19 February 2005 at Goodison Park, ended as a 2–0 win for the Red Devils. The game saw Wayne Rooney start for United against his boyhood club. Rooney received a hostile reception, but goals in each half from Quinton Fortune and Cristiano Ronaldo silenced the jeers at Goodison Park. Fortune headed home after 23 minutes before Ronaldo scored when Nigel Martyn parried Paul Scholes' free-kick. Marcus Bent missed Everton's best chance when Roy Carroll, who was later struck by a missile, saved at his feet.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Cup
United advanced to the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a 4–0 away win against Southampton. Roy Keane put holders United on course for victory over Southampton after two minutes, scoring what turned out to be his final goal for the club, before goals either side of the interval confirmed their supremacy. Cristiano Ronaldo took advantage of good work by Wayne Rooney to score the second in first-half injury time, and Paul Scholes added a third from 12 yards in the 47th minute, then headed home four minutes from time.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Cup
Manchester United booked a place in the FA Cup Final for the second season running with a 4–1 semi-final win against fellow FA Premier League side Newcastle United at the Millennium Stadium. Ruud van Nistelrooy's flicked finish put Alex Ferguson's side ahead. A near-post Paul Scholes header doubled the lead just before half-time and Van Nistelrooy's side-foot shot confirmed the Red Devils' dominance. Shola Ameobi steered in an effort for Newcastle but Cristiano Ronaldo's shot ended their faint hopes of a comeback.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, FA Cup
In the final, played on 21 May 2005 at the Millennium Stadium, Manchester United faced Arsenal. The game ended 0–0. Arsenal won the first ever penalty shoot-out in an FA Cup Final 5–4 after United's Paul Scholes saw his spot-kick saved by Arsenal 'keeper Jens Lehmann. United controlled almost the entire match, but were left empty-handed after Wayne Rooney hit the post and Freddie Ljungberg deflected Van Nistelrooy's header on to the bar. José Antonio Reyes was sent off before Patrick Vieira's deciding penalty. Scholes' penalty miss meant that Arsenal lifted the FA Cup, and also meant that United finished the 2004–05 season trophyless, the first time they had done so since 2001–02.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
As a Premier League club who was competing in European competition for the 2004–05 season, Manchester United entered the League Cup in the third round, where they were given an away tie with Championship side Crewe Alexandra. The game took place on 26 October 2004.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
United won 3–0. Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes from the side that beat Arsenal on 24 October and Alan Smith took just ten minutes to coolly slot the visitors in front. Crewe had chances of their own, with Dean Ashton and Steve Jones testing United goalkeeper Tim Howard. But Liam Miller converted David Bellion's pass, Stephen Foster put the ball into his own net and United easily held on to ease into the next round.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
The draw for the fourth round gave United a home tie with fellow FA Premier League club Crystal Palace. The game took place on 10 November 2004, and United won 2–0. Louis Saha opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, his first goal in the 2004–05 season. Saha took two Palace defenders out of the game when he chested down Quinton Fortune's cross before drilling home a low near-post drive. Kieran Richardson netted his second senior goal to double United's lead seven minutes before the interval. However Richardson enjoyed an element of luck, Palace keeper Julián Speroni letting the shot bounce under his body.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
United played a home tie with fellow FA Premier League club and rivals Arsenal in the fifth round. The game took place on 1 December 2004. United won 1–0, thanks to David Bellion's very early strike. A terrible blunder by Gunners keeper Manuel Almunia saw Bellion's weak shot squirm in after a Johan Djourou slip had gifted possession to Bellion. The home side's greater experience was crucial and Kieran Richardson and Chris Eagles went close in the first half. Arsenal's best chance saw Tim Howard beat out Jermaine Pennant's free-kick.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
In the semi-finals, United were drawn against another Premier League side Chelsea. The first leg took place at Stamford Bridge on 12 January 2005, while the second leg at Old Trafford was played two weeks later.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
The first leg ended as a dull goalless draw. Blues midfielder Frank Lampard twice came close, seeing a header flash wide and having a shot cleared off the line by United's Gabriel Heinze. But the Red Devils will feel aggrieved they were not given a first-half penalty after Louis Saha went tumbling. After the break, Tim Howard saved from Jiří Jarošík, while Carlo Cudicini pushed away Wayne Rooney's header. The Chelsea fashioned the better chances, but were unable to break down an excellent visitors' defence.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, League Cup
The second leg ended as a 2–1 defeat for United, knocking the Reds out of the League Cup. Frank Lampard gave Chelsea the lead with a powerful angled shot before United's Quinton Fortune had a penalty appeal turned down. Ryan Giggs superbly chipped in to give the Red Devils hope, but Damien Duff's 50-yard free-kick, intended as a cross, broke United's hearts and sent Chelsea through to the final.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Third qualifying round
As they had finished 3rd in the FA Premier League the previous season, Manchester United entered the Champions League in the third qualifying round. They were paired with Romanian side Dinamo București. The first leg in Romania took place on 11 August 2004, with the second leg at Old Trafford being played a fortnight later.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Third qualifying round
In the first leg, United overcame an early scare to win 2–1. United fell behind in the 10th minute through a Quinton Fortune own goal. Just before the interval United drew level after Ryan Giggs rounded Uladzimir Haew and slid the ball into the net. United were more cohesive after the break, Alan Smith hitting the post before Angelo Alistar scored an own goal after Liam Miller had crossed.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Third qualifying round
The second leg was a more emphatic win for United, winning 3–0. Alan Smith put United ahead from close range after 47 minutes. He struck another fine finish three minutes later. Substitute David Bellion took advantage of slack defending to seal a multi-million cash jackpot for United. The result sealed a 5–1 aggregate win for United, and earned them a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
In the draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage, United were placed in Pot 1. This meant that they would avoid facing teams such as the holders Porto. However, they could still face the likes of Lyon and Internazionale. In the end, United were drawn with Lyon, Sparta Prague and Fenerbahçe.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
United's first group game was away to Lyon, played on 15 September. The game ended 2–2. Lyon were in command at half-time, with United goalkeeper Tim Howard gifting them the lead after 34 minutes by dropping Juninho's free-kick for Cris to score. Pierre-Alain Frau fired a second after a flowing move 10 minutes later. Ruud van Nistelrooy broke Denis Law's record of 29 European goals for United with a flying header before levelling from close range on the hour. This left United in third place in the group.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
United played their first home game in the group on 28 September, against Fenerbahçe. United won 6–2, with 18-year-old striker Wayne Rooney scoring a hat-trick on his debut. Ryan Giggs headed the hosts ahead before Rooney grabbed centre stage, firing in his first goal from Van Nistelrooy's precision pass. He rifled in a second from 20 yards out and scored a second-half free-kick. Marcio Nobre and Tuncay twice reduced the deficit for the Turkish side, but late goals from Van Nistelrooy and David Bellion made sure of the result.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
United's next game was away to Sparta Prague, on 19 October. The game ended 0–0. The home side were inspired by former United winger Karel Poborský, who twice brought smart saves out of Roy Carroll. Lukáš Zelenka also shot just wide for Sparta, while a Jiří Homola header was kept out by the frame of the goal.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
The return game against Sparta came two weeks later at Old Trafford. Van Nistelrooy scored twice in the first half, including one from the penalty spot, but Zelenka pulled one back for the Czech side just after half-time. However, another two goals for Van Nistelrooy secured the victory as he equalled a club record for the most goals in a European match jointly held by Denis Law and Dennis Viollet. Meanwhile, Poborský was sent off late in the game for picking up two yellow cards.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
In Sir Alex Ferguson's 1,000th match in charge of the club, United hosted Lyon on matchday 5, with Gary Neville opening the scoring with his second career goal in Europe inside 20 minutes. Mahamadou Diarra equalised for the visitors shortly before the break, but an eighth goal of the group stage for Van Nistelrooy secured victory and qualification for the knockout phase. Van Nistelrooy's tally equalled a Champions League group stage record set two years earlier by Hernán Crespo and Filippo Inzaghi.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
United were top of the group going into their final match at Fenerbahçe, but with qualification assured, Ferguson chose to play a second-string team, with centre-back Gerard Piqué making his European debut off the bench in the second half. A hat-trick from Tuncay gave United their first defeat of the Champions League season, and combined with Lyon's 5–0 win over Sparta Prague, it meant United finished in second place in the group, to be paired with a group winner in the draw for the first knockout round.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, Transfers
United's first departure of the 2004–05 season was Mark Lynch, who signed for Sunderland on 14 July. Almost a fortnight later, Nicky Butt left United for Newcastle United after twelve years. Luke Chadwick was released six days later, while Diego Forlán left United for Villarreal after two unhappy years at Old Trafford. Manchester United signed Alan Smith from Leeds United and Gabriel Heinze from psg at the end of 2003-04- season for the 2004-05 seasonComing in were Spanish defender Gerard Piqué, Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi, and English forward Wayne Rooney. Smith, Heinze, Piqué, Rossi and Rooney were United's only arrivals in the whole of the 2004–05 season.


2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season, Transfers
Departing during the winter transfer window were midfielders Bojan Djordjic and Eric Djemba-Djemba who left for Rangers and Aston Villa respectively. On 30 June, United released Northern Irish goalkeeper Roy Carroll, Welsh forward Daniel Nardiello, Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo, Republic of Ireland defender Paul Tierney and Gambian striker Arthur Gómez.


2004–05 Mansfield Town F.C. season
During the 2004–05 English football season, Mansfield Town Football Club competed in Football League Two where they finished in 13th position with 60 points.


2004–05 Meistriliiga (ice hockey) season
The 2004–05 Meistriliiga season was the 15th season of the Meistriliiga, the top level of ice hockey in Estonia. Five teams participated in the league, and HK Stars Tallinn won the championship.


2004–05 Memphis Grizzlies season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the Grizzlies' tenth season in the National Basketball Association, and their fourth season in Memphis. Coming off their first playoff appearance in franchise history, the Grizzlies had a new look and moved into their new arena, the FedExForum. However, the team struggled with a 5–7 start as 71-year old Hubie Brown retired from coaching due to "unexpected health problems". The Grizzlies would lose their next four games under Lionel Hollins before replacing him with TNT analyst Mike Fratello. Under Fratello, the Grizzlies would win 12 of their 15 games in January climbing back into playoff contention. Despite losing five of their last six games, the Grizzlies finished fourth in the Southwest Division with a 45–37 record, making their second consecutive trip to the playoffs.


2004–05 Memphis Grizzlies season
However, in the first round of the playoffs, they were swept by the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in four straight games. Following the season, Bonzi Wells was traded to the Sacramento Kings, Jason Williams and James Posey were both dealt to the Miami Heat, and Stromile Swift signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets.


2004–05 Memphis Grizzlies season
The Grizzlies new logo and uniforms still remain in use as of 2017, although the jerseys were slightly changed in 2010.


2004–05 Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey season
These are the highlights of the 2004-05 Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey season.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season
Mersin İdmanyurdu (also Mersin İdman Yurdu, Mersin İY, or MİY) Sports Club; located in Mersin, east Mediterranean coast of Turkey in 2004–05. The team participated in Second League Category A for 3rd time in the league's 4th season. Mersin İdmanyurdu football team has finished 2004–05 season in 7th place in Turkish Second League Category A. Mersin idmanyurdu participated in 2004–05 Turkish Cup, and eliminated at second stage.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season
Hasan Ahi was the president of the club. MİY's formerplayer Levent Arıkdoğan coached the team during the season. Önal Arıca and Selim Özer were the mostly appeared players in the team rosters with 33 appearances each. Season and league top goal scorer was Sedat Debreli (10); and Kerem Zengin, loaned player from Fenerbahçe followed him (9).


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 TFF First League participation
Mersin İdmanyurdu participated in 2004–05 Second League Category A (the league has been played under the name of "Second League Category A" between 2001–02 and 2005–06; "TFF League A" in 2006–07; and "TFF First League" since 2007–08. Also sponsor names have been included in various seasons.). 18 teams attended in the league. Winners, runners-up and second runners-up were directly promoted to 2005–06 Süper Lig. Bottom three teams were relegated to 2005–06 TFF Second League.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 TFF First League participation
Mersin İdmanyurdu participated in 2004–05 Second League Category A and finished 7th.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 TFF First League participation, Results summary
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2004–05 Second League Category A season league summary:


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 TFF First League participation, League table
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2003–04 Second League Category A season place in league table.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 TFF First League participation, Results by round
Results of games MİY played in 2004–05 Second League Category A by rounds:


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 TFF First League participation, First half
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2004–05 Second League Category A season first half game reports is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 TFF First League participation, Second half
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2004–05 Second League Category A season second half game reports is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 Turkish Cup participation
2003–04 Turkish Cup was played for 43rd time as Fortis Türkiye Kupası for sponsorship purposes. This season Cup was played by 48 teams in one-leg elimination system in 3 elimination rounds prior to quarter-finals. Galatasaray won the cup for the 14th time. Mersin İdmanyurdu participated in the cup at first elimination round and was eliminated in second round.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 Turkish Cup participation, Cup track
The drawings and results Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) followed in 2004–05 Turkish Cup are shown in the following table.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 Turkish Cup participation, Game details
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2004–05 Turkish Cup game reports is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, Management, Club management
Hasan Ahi, a lawyer from an established family native to Mersin was elected the president of the club in the congress held on 24 May 2004.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, Management, Coaching team
Levent Arıkdoğan former player of Mersin İdmanyurdu was the head coach during the season.


2004–05 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2004–05 squad
Appearances, goals and cards count for 2004–05 Second League Category A and 2004–05 Turkish Cup games. 18 players appeared in each game roster, three to be replaced. Only the players who appeared in game rosters were included and listed in order of appearance.


2004–05 Mestis season
The 2004–05 Mestis season was the fifth season of the Mestis, the second level of ice hockey in Finland. 12 teams participated in the league, and KalPa won the championship.


2004–05 Mestis season, Qualification
No teams were relegated as FPS and Jokipojat retained their places in Mestis.


2004–05 Miami Heat season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 17th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. The Heat entered the season with high expectations following the acquisition of All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers, plus signing free agents Christian Laettner, three-point specialist Damon Jones, and Shandon Anderson. O'Neal was traded away from the Lakers following recurrence of bad blood with former teammate Kobe Bryant. Despite their numerous conflicts during their 8 years as teammates, the duo led the Lakers to 3-straight championship titles from 2000 to 2002.


2004–05 Miami Heat season
The team played solid basketball posting a 14-game winning streak between December and January winning 25 of their first 32 games, then winning twelve straight between February and March. At midseason, the team re-signed free agent All-Star center Alonzo Mourning, and re-acquired former Heat guard Steve Smith from the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. The Heat finished in first place in both their division and conference with a 59–23 record, which was the franchise's best since 1996–97.


2004–05 Miami Heat season
Second-year star Dwyane Wade led the Heat in scoring averaging 24.1 points per game, while O'Neal finished second on the team in scoring with 22.9 points per game. Both players were selected to play in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game at Denver, which marked Wade's first All-Star appearance.


2004–05 Miami Heat season
In the first round of the playoffs, the Heat swept the New Jersey Nets in four straight games, then swept the Washington Wizards in four straight in the semi-finals. However, the Heat were eventually eliminated in seven games during the Eastern Conference Finals by the 2nd-seeded, and defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons. The Wade and Shaq-led Heat were expected by many to face the Spurs in the Finals (They would eventually meet 8 years later). Following the season, Eddie Jones was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, Damon Jones signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Laettner and Smith both retired.


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team
The 2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Spartans, led by 10th-year head coach Tom Izzo, played their home games at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan and were members of the Big Ten Conference. MSU finished the season 25–7, 13–3 to finish in second place in the Big Ten. They received a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth consecutive year and advanced to the Final Four before losing to eventual National Champion North Carolina.


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Previous season
The Spartans finished the 2003–04 season 18–12, 12–4 in Big Ten play to finish in third place. They lost in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament to Wisconsin. They received a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their seventh straight trip to the Tournament, and lost in the First Round to Nevada


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
The Spartans were led by senior Alan Anderson (13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game), juniors Maurice Ager (14.1 points per game) and Paul Davis (12.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game), and sophomore Shannon Brown (10.9 points per game).


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
They began the season ranked No. 13 in the country. The Spartans struggled early in the non-conference schedule, beginning 3–2 with losses to No. 10 Duke in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and George Washington in the BB&T Classic. MSU won their remaining non-conference games to finish the non-conference schedule with a record of 8–2 and ranked No. 20 in the country.


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
The Spartans cruised through the Big Ten, only losing three games, including a loss to No. 1 Illinois and finished second in conference to Illinois. MSU finished the regular season with a 13–3 conference record and 22–5 overall while being ranked No. 13 in the country. The Spartans lost in the quarterfinals in the Big Ten Tournament to Iowa.


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
Michigan State received an at-large bid as a No. 5 seed in the Austin Regional of the NCAA Tournament, their eighth straight appearance in the Tournament under Tom Izzo. After having exited in the First Round the prior year, the Spartans faced Old Dominion in the First Round in the dreaded 5 vs. 12 seed matchup. The Spartans trailed by five at half time, 42–37, but rallied to pull out the victory, 89–81. In the Second Round, MSU faced No. 13 seed Vermont. Led by Maurice Ager's 19 points, the Spartans won 72–61 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the sixth time in eight years.


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
In the Sweet Sixteen, the Spartans beat No. 3-ranked and No. 1-seeded Duke, which MSU had not defeated since 1958. After a first half which saw the score tied at 32, MSU pulled out a rugged victory to advance to the Elite Eight, winning 78–68 behind Paul Davis' 20 points and 12 rebounds. The win marked Izzo's first and only win over Duke's until the Elite Eight victory over th #1 seeded Duke in 2019.Mike Krzyzewski (as of 2017).


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
In the Elite Eight, MSU faced No. 7-ranked and No. 2-seeded Kentucky on Easter Sunday. The Spartans trailed 37–33 after the first half, but rallied to take the lead by eight with over five minutes remaining in regulation. However, Kentucky rallied to within three with seconds remaining. After missing two attempts to tie the game, Patrick Sparks got a desperation shot off with less than second remaining. After bouncing four times on the rim, the ball went through the hoop for a basket, but officials had to review the replay to determine if his foot was on the three-point line.


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
After a five-minute review, Kentucky was given credit for the three to move the game to overtime. Both teams only managed six points in the overtime period, scoring none in the final minute to force double overtime. On the strength of free throw shooting in the second overtime, the Spartans pulled out the win, 94–88.


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
The win meant the Spartans advanced to their fourth Final Four in seven years. With Illinois also advancing to the Final Four to face Louisville, the Big Ten had two teams in the Final Four for the first time since 2000 when Michigan State defeated Wisconsin on the way to the National Championship.


2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
No. 2-ranked and No. 1-seeded North Carolina loomed as the opponent for MSU in the Final Four. MSU took the halftime lead at 38–33, but North Carolina's Sean May scored 22 points and Spartans were outscored by 19 in the second half, losing 87–71.


2004–05 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 2004-05 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 2004-05 season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Under the direction of head coach Tommy Amaker, the team finished tied for seventh in the Big Ten Conference. The team earned a ninth seed and was defeated in the first round of the 2005 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament.


2004–05 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The team failed to earn an invitation to either the 2005 National Invitation Tournament or the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The team was unranked for all eighteen weeks of Associated Press Top Twenty-Five Poll, and it also ended the season unranked in the final USA Today/CNN Poll. The team had a 2–7 record against ranked opponents, with its victories coming against #20 Notre Dame 61–60 on December 4, 2004 at Crisler Arena and #14 Iowa 65–53 on January 5 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.


2004–05 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
Lester Abram, Graham Brown, and Sherrod Harrell served as team co-captains, and Dion Harris earned team MVP honors. The team's leading scorers were Dion Harris (444 points), Courtney Sims (305 points) and Ron Coleman (233 points). The leading rebounders were Courtney Sims (160), Brent Petway (158) and Graham Brown (115).


2004–05 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
In the 2005 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center from March 10–13, Michigan was seeded ninth. In the first round, they lost to number 8 Northwestern 58–56.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season
During the 2004–05 season, Middlesbrough participated in the FA Premier League.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Kit
During this season, Middlesbrough had a new sponsor, 888.com. The team's kit was produced by Errea. The home shirt included a white band on it for the first time since the 2000–01 season. The away strip was mainly white with maroon sleeves, navy blue shorts and white socks. Away to Southampton, white shorts and navy socks were worn with the away shirt.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
After the triumph in the League Cup final the previous season and a solid 11th-place finish in the league, Boro fans were optimistic that this season would be a success. Steve McClaren signed Boudewijn Zenden and Doriva on permanent deals following their loan spells, as well as adding high-profile signings Ray Parlour, Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Michael Reiziger to the squad. With these new additions, the supporters felt that, come the end of the season, Boro would be pushing for a league place good enough to qualify for Europe.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
The season started well and Middlesbrough found themselves in fourth position following only one loss in the first 5 games. Despite a slight drop in their form, Boro kept in and around the top four until mid-November.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
However, the UEFA Cup took its toll on the small Boro squad and their form stuttered towards Christmas. The team seemed to consist of more and more young players who were deputising for more senior players such as Gaizka Mendieta and Malcolm Christie who were ruled out for the season with injuries.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
Following a 2–0 win at home to Norwich City on 28 December, Boro were in fifth place. However, not helped by an injury to George Boateng, after only one win in the next ten games the team found themselves in ninth and seemed to have undone their good work at the start of the season.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
Things did finally pick up and, following only three losses in the final 12 games of the season, they found themselves up against Manchester City in the final game of the season. Both teams were in direct contest for the seventh place that Boro occupied, and a win for either side would mean qualification for the UEFA Cup. A last-minute penalty save by Mark Schwarzer gave Boro a 1–1 draw and the all important seventh-placed finish. For the first time in their history, Middlesbrough had qualified for Europe through the league.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
The season was full of highs and lows for the Boro fans. The disappointment of losing their early strong position due to the injury crisis was offset against the emergence of several promising youngsters such as Stewart Downing, James Morrison and Anthony McMahon.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
Both domestic cups were disappointing for the Boro team and the draws weren't favourable towards them. They only lasted two rounds in each competition, going out in the fourth round of both cups, to Manchester United in the FA Cup and to a young Liverpool side in the League Cup. The UEFA Cup run - Middlesbrough's first foray into Europe, having won the first major trophy of their history, the League Cup, the previous season - held greater joy.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
The first round was a two-legged knockout match against Baník Ostrava - Boro's first ever European match, with the first leg was at home. With a fantastic atmosphere at the Riverside, Middlesbrough cruised through the first leg 3–0; with a comfortable 1–1 draw in the away leg, they had qualified for the group stages and were guaranteed another 4 matches.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
Middlesbrough were drawn in Group D, along with Villarreal, Lazio, Egaleo and Partizan Belgrade. The fans were confident that the team could earn at least a third-place finish in the group and therefore qualify for the knockout stages.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
Boro went on to exceed all expectations, beating Egalio and Partizan Belgrade as expected and also achieving a fantastic 2–0 victory over Lazio - the only blot being a 2–0 away loss to Villarreal. This was enough to earn them a second-place finish and qualification for the next round, where Middlesbrough were drawn against Grazer AK. Middlesbrough managed a 2–2 draw against the then Austrian champions in the first leg, away. The team duly built on this in the return leg and progressed to the next round following a 2–1 win.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
The round of 16 saw Boro face Sporting Lisbon for a place in the quarter finals. However, luck wasn't with Middlesbrough and they found themselves in the middle of an injury crisis. The first leg was at home and remained goalless at half time. Sporting then proceed to show their class and scored 3 in a thirty-minute spell after the break. Boro looked like they were to exit the competition, but a spectacular overhead scissor kick from Joseph Desire-Job and a late Chris Riggott goal gave a weakened Boro team a fairly respectable 3–2 loss. The second leg didn't go to plan though; despite fantastic support from 3,000 travelling fans, Middlesbrough went down 1–0, losing 4–2 on aggregate. The Boro fans took the defeat in good heart, however, and partied late into the night in Lisbon.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review
Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup run was seen as a huge success by the fans, and expectations were high for the following year's campaign.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, First-team squad
The following are all the players who were involved the Middlesbrough F.C. first team at some point during the 2004-05 season. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Results, Premier League, Results per matchday
Note: Results are given with Middlesbrough score listed first. Man of the Match is according to .


2004–05 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Player statistics, Appearances and discipline
Appearance and disciplinary records for 2004-05 league and cup matches.


2004–05 Midland Football Alliance
The 2004–05 Midland Football Alliance season was the eleventh in the history of Midland Football Alliance, a football competition in England.


2004–05 Midland Football Alliance, Clubs
The league featured 19 clubs from the previous season, along with three new clubs:


2004–05 Midland Football Combination
The 2004–05 Midland Football Combination season was the 68th in the history of Midland Football Combination, a football competition in England.


2004–05 Midland Football Combination, Premier Division
The Premier Division featured 19 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs, promoted from Division One:


2004–05 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season
The 2004–05 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season would have been the Mighty Ducks' 12th season of play in the NHL, however, the 2004–05 NHL lockout cancelled all of the games for the season.


2004–05 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Off-season
Along with the rest of the National Hockey League, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim entered the 2004 offseason with many questions. While most of the NHL was concerned with a possible lockout due to negotiations concerning a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Mighty Ducks had even more issues concerning the future ownership of the franchise and the future of the franchise in Orange County. The owners of the Ducks at the time, the Walt Disney Company was looking to sell the team and people in the community were not all too confident that the team would remain in Anaheim.


2004–05 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Off-season
On September 10, just a month before the 2004–05 season was scheduled to start, it was reported in the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, and the Associated Press that former Hartford Whalers and Pittsburgh Penguins owner Howard Baldwin was interested in purchasing the Mighty Ducks and moving them to Kansas City, Missouri to play in the then-under construction arena now known as Sprint Center. The lockout, however, began just six days later and extended well into what would have been the regular season and eventually causing the cancellation of the season entirely.


2004–05 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Off-season
With the Kansas City rumors circulating and the lockout already harming business at the Arrowhead Pond, Henry Samueli (the owner of Anaheim Arena Management, the operator of the Pond) got into negotiations to purchase the team so the arena would not lose its primary tenant. Samueli eventually bought the team in 2005 and took over day-to-day operations of the club in June 2005.


2004–05 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Regular season
The season for the Mighty Ducks were scheduled to begin Wednesday, October 13 with a home game against Calgary. Their first road game was to be on Sunday, October 17 against cross-town rival Los Angeles. Their longest homestand was supposed to be from March 2-March 13 (6 home games), and their longest road trip was to be from January 29–February 10 (7 road games). Their final game of the regular season was scheduled on Sunday, April 10 against Columbus at the Arrowhead Pond.


2004–05 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Schedule
While the lockout led to the cancellation of the entire season, the Mighty Ducks had a schedule drawn up in case the season resumed at any time.


2004–05 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Transactions
The Mighty Ducks have were involved in the following transactions during the 2004 offseason. No transactions were made during the lockout.


2004–05 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Draft picks
The Ducks picks at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft in Raleigh, North Carolina:


2004–05 Millwall F.C. season
During the 2004–05 English football season, Millwall competed in the Football League Championship.


2004–05 Millwall F.C. season, Season summary
In the UEFA Cup, Millwall lost 4–2 on aggregate in the first round proper, to Hungarian Champions Ferencváros, with Wise scoring both Millwall goals. Millwall put up a brave fight in both games, but the Hungarian champions were too strong. Surprisingly, whilst Millwall were seeded, Ferencvaros were not. Millwall could have had an easier draw, against Chechnyan minnows Terek Grozny. If Millwall had beaten them, then they would have made it into the group stage of the competition, where they would have faced some of Europe's elite, including teams such as Lazio and Schalke.


2004–05 Millwall F.C. season, Season summary
In 2005, Theo Paphitis announced that he was stepping down as chairman of the club with Jeff Burnige to replace him from May 2005. At the end of the 2004–05 season, manager Dennis Wise announced that he was leaving as he was unable to form a working relationship with the new chairman.


2004–05 Millwall F.C. season, Players, First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2004–05 Millwall F.C. season, Players, Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2004–05 Millwall F.C. season, Players, Reserve squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2004–05 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season
The 2004–05 season was Milton Keynes Dons' inaugural season as a new club following the team's change of name from Wimbledon FC on 21 June 2004. This change of name followed the controversial relocation of Wimbledon FC during the previous 2003–04 season.


2004–05 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season
Following Wimbledon FC's relegation from the 2003–04 Football League First Division, Milton Keynes Dons played their first season in the newly re-branded Football League One (formerly known as the Second Division).


2004–05 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season
As well as competing in League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and League Trophy.


2004–05 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season
The season covers the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005.


2004–05 Milwaukee Bucks season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the Bucks' 37th season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Bucks signed free agents Mike James and second-year guard Mo Williams, while acquiring Zaza Pachulia from the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. Injuries hampered the Bucks from the start as a second-year guard T.J. Ford was lost for the entire season due to a neck injury. The Bucks would get off to a sluggish start losing 16 of their first 22 games. At midseason, the team traded Keith Van Horn to the Dallas Mavericks, and dealt James to the Houston Rockets.


2004–05 Milwaukee Bucks season
They lost 15 of their final 18 games including an 8-game losing streak, finishing in last place in the Central Division with a 30–52 record. The only bright spot came from Michael Redd, who averaged a team-high of 23.0 points per game. Following the season, head coach Terry Porter was fired, and Pachulia signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks.


2004–05 Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team
The 2004–05 Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team represented the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee during the 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Panthers, led by head coach Bruce Pearl, played their home games at the U.S. Cellular Arena and Klotsche Center and were members of the Horizon League. They finished the season 26–6, 14–2 in Horizon League play to finish in first place.


2004–05 Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team
They were champions of the Horizon League Tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament where they received a #12 seed and defeated #5 seed Alabama and #4 seed Boston College to reach their 1st Sweet 16 in school history. Their season ended after losing to the eventual National Runner-Up #1 seed Illinois.


2004–05 Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team, 2005 Horizon League Tournament
First round games at campus sites of higher seedsSecond round and semifinals hosted by the top seed. Championship hosted by best remaining seed


2004–05 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey season, Player stats, Skaters
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; PTS = Points; GW = Game Winning Goals; PPL = Power Play Goals; SHG = Short Handed Goals


2004–05 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season
In 2004–05, the Gophers had an overall record of 36–2–2. Its mark in the WCHA was 25–1–2. Both totals established the most wins in a season and in conference action since the start of the Gophers program in 1997–98. From the beginning of the season to the end, the Gophers were ranked No. 1. In addition, the Gophers were ranked in the top five in every statistical category, including winning percentage, power-play and offensive scoring.


2004–05 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season, Postseason
The Gophers then went on to win their second straight WCHA Championship with a 3–2 overtime win over Wisconsin. In the NCAA playoffs, the Gophers defeated the Providence Friars by a 6–1 score. With the win, the Gophers advanced to its fourth-straight NCAA Frozen Four appearance. The Gophers defeated the Dartmouth Big Green by a 7–2 score in the semifinal game. In the first period, the Gophers scored five goals in the first period. On March 27, the Gophers defeated the Harvard Crimson by a 4–3 mark to win their consecutive national championship.


2004–05 Minnesota Timberwolves season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 16th season competing in the National Basketball Association. After appearing in the Conference Finals the previous season, the Timberwolves played at around .500 for the first half of the season. However, the team began to struggle further into the season, losing six straight games between January and February and slipping below .500. After a 25–26 start, longtime head coach Flip Saunders was fired and replaced with General Manager Kevin McHale for the remainder of the season.


2004–05 Minnesota Timberwolves season
The Timberwolves improved under McHale’s management, but finished the season in third position in the Northwest Division. With a 44–38 regular season record, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996. Kevin Garnett led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists, as he was selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. Following the season, Latrell Sprewell retired after turning down a contract extension, Sam Cassell was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, and McHale was fired as coach.


2004–05 Minnesota Wild season
The 2004–05 Minnesota Wild season was the team's fifth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). Its games were cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout.


2004–05 Minnesota Wild season, Draft picks
Minnesota's picks at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 26–27, 2004.


2004–05 Moldovan "A" Division
The 2004–05 Moldovan "A" Division season is the 14th since its establishment. A total of 16 teams are contesting the league.


2004–05 Moldovan National Division
The 2004–05 Moldovan National Division (Romanian: Divizia Națională) was the 14th season of top-tier football in Moldova.


2004–05 Moldovan National Division, Overview
It was contested by 8 teams and Sheriff Tiraspol won the championship.


2004–05 Mongolia Hockey League season
The 2004–05 Mongolia Hockey League season was the 14th season of the Mongolia Hockey League. Baganuur won the championship by defeating Otgon Od Ulaanbaatar in the playoff final.


2004–05 Montenegrin First League
Second League Montenegro 2004-05 was one of the two groups of the Second League of Serbia and Montenegro (Budućnost Podgorica, Sutjeska Nikšić and Zeta Golubovci competed in the First League).


2004–05 Montenegrin First League, Relegation play-offs
The 9th placed team were played against the 2nd placed team of the Montenegrin Second League in two-legged relegation play-offs after the end of the season.


2004–05 Montenegrin First League, Relegation play-offs, Second leg
Mornar remained a member of First League, while Gusinje remained a member of Second League.


2004–05 Montreal Canadiens season
The 2004–05 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 96th season, 88th in the National Hockey League. However, its games were cancelled as the 2004–05 NHL lockout could not be resolved in time. The other 29 teams did not play either due to the labour dispute.


2004–05 Montreal Canadiens season, Transactions
The Canadiens were involved in the following transactions from June 8, 2004, the day after the deciding game of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, through February 16, 2005, the day the 2004–05 season was officially canceled.


2004–05 Montreal Canadiens season, Draft picks
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout which cancelled all the games scheduled for the 2004–05 NHL season.


2004–05 Motherwell F.C. season
The 2004–05 season was Motherwell's 7th season in the Scottish Premier League, and their 20th consecutive season in the top division of Scottish football.


2004–05 Motherwell F.C. season, Squad
Updated 6 August 2011Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2004–05 Munster Rugby season
The 2004–05 Munster Rugby season was Munster's fourth season competing in the Celtic League, alongside which they also competed in the Heineken Cup. It was Alan Gaffney's second and final season as head coach.


2004–05 Munster Rugby season, 2004–05 squad
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.


2004–05 Munster Rugby season, 2004–05 Celtic League
Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:


2004–05 NBA season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating the defending-champion Detroit Pistons, 4–3, in the NBA Finals.


2004–05 NBA season, Playoffs
Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.


2004–05 NBA season, Awards, Players of the month
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.


2004–05 NBA season, Awards, Rookies of the month
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.


2004–05 NBA season, Awards, Coaches of the month
The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.


2004–05 NBL All-Star Game
The 2004/05 NBL All-Star Game was held at the Townsville Entertainment Centre in Townsville, Queensland on 19 January 2005. The attendance for this All-Star game was 5078 spectators.


2004–05 NBL All-Star Game
The Aussie All-Stars defeated the World All-Stars 156-140. Rookie Brad Newley from the Townsville Crocodiles won the All-Star MVP award, contributing 35 points to the Aussie All-Stars total. Other leading scorers for the Aussie All-Stars included John Rillie with 23 points and Jason Smith with 22 points. For the World All-Stars Robert Brown top scored with 31 points, followed by Brian Wethers with 28 and Willie Farley with 24.


2004–05 NBL All-Star Game, Dunk Competition
The Dunk Competition was won by Robert Brown of the Townsville Crocodiles.


2004–05 NBL season
The 2004–05 NBL season was the 27th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 11 teams contested the league, the Victoria Giants has been folded.


2004–05 NBL season, Regular Season
The 2004-05 Regular Season took place over 21 Rounds between 29 September 2004 and 20 February 2005.


2004–05 NBL season, Ladder
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win-loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.


2004–05 NBL season, Ladder
23-way Head-to-Head between Brisbane Bullets (4-2), Melbourne Tigers (3-3) and Perth Wildcats (2-4).


2004–05 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team
The 2004–05 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represented North Carolina State University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference during the 2004–05 men's college basketball season. It was Herb Sendek's ninth season as head coach. The Wolfpack earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament, reached the Sweet Sixteen, and finished with a record of 21–14 (7–9 ACC).


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
The 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings was made up of two human polls, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various other preseason polls.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2004, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 4, 2005 at the Edward Jones Dome in Saint Louis, Missouri. The North Carolina Tar Heels won their fourth NCAA national championship with a 75–70 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Season outlook, Pre-season polls
The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls November 11, 2004.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Regular season, Conference winners and tournaments
30 conference seasons conclude with a single-elimination tournament. Traditionally, all conference schools are eligible, regardless of record. However, some conferences, most notably the Big East, do not invite the teams with the worst records. The conference tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. A school that wins the conference regular season title is guaranteed an NIT bid; however, it may receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Ivy League is the only Division I conference that does not hold a conference tournament, instead sending their regular-season champion.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Regular season, Statistical leaders
* Coleman and Funn tied for the national assists lead. Each player had 224 assists in 28 games.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-Season Tournaments, NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament tipped off on March 15, 2005 with the opening round game in Dayton, Ohio, and concluded on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO. A total of 65 teams entered the tournament. Thirty of the teams earned automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments. The automatic bid of the Ivy League, which does not conduct a post-season tournament, went to its regular season champion. The remaining 34 teams were granted "at-large" bids, which are extended by the NCAA Selection Committee. The Big East Conference led the way with eight bids. North Carolina won their fourth NCAA title, beating Illinois 75–70 in the final. North Carolina forward Sean May was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-Season Tournaments, National Invitation Tournament
After the NCAA Tournament field was announced, the National Invitation Tournament invited 32 teams to participate, reducing the field's size from 40. Eight teams were given automatic bids for winning their conference regular seasons, and 24 other teams were also invited. Dave Odom's South Carolina Gamecocks won the title, defeating the Saint Joseph's Hawks 60–57 in the championship game. The Gamecocks' Carlos Powell was named tournament MVP.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Coaching changes
A number of teams changed coaches throughout the season and after the season ended.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings
Two human polls made up the 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings, the USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll and the USA TODAY/American Hockey Magazine Poll. As the 2004–05 season progressed, rankings were updated weekly. There were a total of 34 voters in the USA Today poll and 40 voters in the USCHO.com poll. Each first place vote in either poll is worth 15 points in the rankings with every subsequent vote worth 1 fewer point.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
The 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 3, 2004 and concluded with the 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 9, 2005 at the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. This was the 58th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 110th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Pre-season polls
The top 15 from USCHO.com/CBS College Sports and the top 15 from USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.


2004–05 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Leading goaltenders
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average


2004–05 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings
Two human polls comprise the 2004–05 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. The AP poll is currently a poll of sportswriters, while the USA Today Coaches' Poll is a poll of college coaches. The AP conducts polls weekly through the end of the regular season and conference play, while the Coaches poll conducts a final, post-NCAA tournament poll as well.


2004–05 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season
The 2004–05 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season began on October 15, 2004 and concluded on March 19 of the following year. This was the 32nd season of Division III college ice hockey.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games
The 2004–05 NCAA football bowl games were a series of 32 post-season games (including the Bowl Championship Series) played in December 2004 and January 2005 for Division I-A football teams and their all-stars. The post-season began with the New Orleans Bowl on December 14, 2004, and concluded on January 29, 2005, with the season-ending Senior Bowl.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games
A total of 28 team-competitive games, and five all-star games, were played. For the first time in three years, the 56 available bowl slots were filled by teams with winning records, as no teams with non-winning seasons (6–6, or .500) were invited to participate in bowl games.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls
Of the 59 Division I-A football teams with winning records, 56 were invited to the various bowl games. This season, bowl officials had more difficulty than usual filling their slots. Because the regular season was only 11 games, teams had to finish at least 6–5 to qualify. Teams that were allowed under NCAA rules to play a 12th regular-season game in return for playing at Hawaii had to finish at least 7–5.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls
Four conferences – the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, and SEC – all failed to produce enough bowl-eligible teams to fill their contracted bowl slots. In addition, a massive brawl between Clemson and South Carolina players during their November 20 game, less than 24 hours following the Pacers–Pistons brawl during a National Basketball Association game, led both schools to announce that they would not go to any bowl game as a self-imposed punishment. Both schools were otherwise bowl-eligible, thus forcing bowl organizers to scramble even more to fill their slots. In addition, Utah's unexpected entry into the BCS caused further shuffling of normal bowl tie-ins.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls
The main beneficiary of this unexpected chaos was the Mid-American Conference, which received five bowl bids instead of its contracted two. The only bowl-eligible team willing to accept an invitation that was left out of this season's bowl games was another MAC school, Akron. The Zips would make their first bowl appearance the next season.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls
Three schools made their first-ever bowl appearance this season: UAB (Hawaii Bowl), UConn (2004 Motor City Bowl), and Troy State (Silicon Valley Football Classic). Of these three, only UConn won its game. For the first time since the 1968–1969 bowl season Nebraska did not go to a bowl game.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, New Orleans Bowl
The bowl season kicked off on December 14 with the fourth annual New Orleans Bowl, one of two bowl games played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Dustin Almond passed for 249 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for a touchdown as well, as Southern Miss Golden Eagles (Conference USA) defeated the North Texas Mean Green (Sun Belt Conference) 31–10.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Champs Sports Bowl
The first of two bowl games at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida was the Champs Sports Bowl, held on December 21. It featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (ACC) and the Syracuse Orange (Big East). Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball passed for two touchdowns and ran for another, while the Yellow Jackets defense recorded a touchdown off of an interception and a safety. Georgia Tech romped, 51–14.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, GMAC Bowl
The Bowling Green Falcons (MAC) met the Memphis Tigers (C-USA) on December 22 in Mobile, Alabama in the GMAC Bowl. In a meeting of high-powered offenses, Memphis's Danny Wimprime threw for 324 yards and 4 touchdowns, but was outdone by his counterpart Omar Jacobs, who had 365 yards and 5 touchdowns. Bowling Green won, 52–35.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Fort Worth Bowl
The Fort Worth Bowl, held on December 23 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in the titular city, matched a departing C-USA team with a future member of that conference. The Cincinnati Bearcats, which left C-USA for the Big East Conference after the 2004–05 season, played the Marshall Thundering Herd, which joined C-USA from the MAC for 2005–06. Cincinnati quarterback Gino Guidugli returned from a broken hand to throw for two touchdowns, and the Bearcats defense held Marshall to 134 yards of total offense in a 32–14 win. The loss broke the Thundering Herd's streaks of 20 consecutive winning seasons and five winning bowl appearances (in nonconsecutive years).


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Las Vegas Bowl
The first matchup of the bowl season that pitted a team from a BCS AQ conference against a BCS non-AQ conference team was the Las Vegas Bowl, held at Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney, Nevada on December 23. The UCLA Bruins (Pac-10) played the Wyoming Cowboys (Mountain West Conference), with UCLA the heavy favorite. The underdog Cowboys took an early 10–0 lead, but the Bruins stormed back to take a 21–10 lead going into the fourth quarter.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Las Vegas Bowl
The Cowboys scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a trick play, and capped off the first major upset of the bowl season with a touchdown pass from Corey Bramlet to John Wadkowski with 57 seconds left. The 24–21 Wyoming win was the Cowboys' first bowl victory since 1968.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Hawaii Bowl
On December 24, the Hawaii Warriors (WAC) played the Hawaii Bowl on their home field, Aloha Stadium in Honolulu for the third time in the bowl's three-year existence. The Warriors faced a first-time bowl participant in the UAB Blazers (C-USA). In an offensive shootout that saw both quarterbacks (Hawaii's Timmy Chang and UAB's Darrell Hackney) throw for over 400 yards, the homestanding Warriors won 59–40. The Warriors' Chad Owens caught two of Chang's four touchdown passes and returned a punt for a TD. Chang finished his career as the first Division I-A quarterback to throw for over 17,000 yards in his career, and also finished with career records for pass attempts, completions, and total offense.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, MPC Computers Bowl
On December 27, the second matchup between BCS AQ and BCS non-AQ conference teams took place in the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho. The Fresno State Bulldogs (WAC) played the Virginia Cavaliers (ACC). UVa went out to a 21–7 second-quarter lead, but the Bulldogs stormed back to tie the game at 24 early in the fourth quarter.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, MPC Computers Bowl
The Cavaliers retook the lead early in the fourth quarter on a rushing touchdown by Wali Lundy, but Bulldogs quarterback Paul Pinegar threw a 3-yard TD pass to Jason Fairman with 19 seconds left; the ensuing extra point tied the game at 31, leading to the first overtime of the 2004–05 bowl season. In the overtime, the Cavaliers had the ball first and kicked a field goal. On the Bulldogs' first play in overtime, Pinegar threw his fifth TD pass of the day, connecting with Stephen Spach to give the Bulldogs a 37–34 upset win.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Motor City Bowl
The other bowl on December 27, the Motor City Bowl held at Ford Field in Detroit, was also a BCS AQ conference vs. BCS non-AQ conference matchup. The UConn Huskies made their first-ever bowl appearance in their second year in Division I-A and first as a member of the Big East. They faced the MAC champion Toledo Rockets, which were playing little more than an hour's drive from their campus. Rockets quarterback Bruce Gradowski, affected by a broken hand suffered in the MAC championship game, was ineffective before being benched at halftime.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Motor City Bowl
However, the Huskies were effective enough that a healthy Gradowski may not have made a difference; UConn quarterback Dan Orlovsky threw for two TDs with no interceptions, and return specialist Larry Taylor had 157 return yards, including a punt return for a TD. UConn won 39–10, giving BCS AQ conferences their first win in three tries against BCS non-AQ conference teams this season.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Independence Bowl
On December 28 in Shreveport, Louisiana, another BCS AQ/non-AQ matchup took place in the Independence Bowl between the Iowa State Cyclones (Big 12) and the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (MAC). Iowa State went out to a 10–0 lead in the second quarter, but Miami scored a touchdown late in that quarter to reduce the Cyclones' halftime lead to 10–7. The RedHawks scored a TD to take a 13–10 lead in the third quarter, but missed the extra point. The Cyclones' Ryan Kock scored the winning TD early in the fourth quarter, and the Cyclones defense held on for the 17–13 win. Two Cyclones, quarterback Bret Meyer and running back Stevie Hicks, rushed for over 100 yards each. RedHawks receiver Michael Larkin extended his NCAA record of consecutive games with a reception to 50. This was the last game for RedHawks head coach Terry Hoeppner, who took the head job at Indiana.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Insight Bowl
The second bowl on December 28, the Insight Bowl held at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, was the second of the 2004–05 bowl season to pit two BCS AQ member teams. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the only independent with BCS automatic qualifying privileges, took on the Oregon State Beavers from the Pac-10. The Beavers never trailed in the game, and easily defeated the Irish 38–21. Beavers quarterback Derek Anderson threw for 359 yards and four touchdown passes, with no interceptions.


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Insight Bowl
The game was a rematch of the 2001 Fiesta Bowl, played at the nearby Sun Devil Stadium, with a similar result (Oregon State blowout victory).


2004–05 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Houston Bowl
On December 29, the Colorado Buffaloes (Big 12) took on the UTEP Miners (WAC) in the Houston Bowl at Reliant Stadium in the host city. The Miners led for most of the game, but Buffaloes quarterback Joel Klatt threw two TD passes in the fourth quarter to lead CU to a 33–28 win. Klatt finished 24-for-33 for 333 yards. Miners QB Jordan Palmer, younger brother of 2002 Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, threw for 328 yards and two TDs, but only completed two of his last 12 passes, finishing 22-for-42 with two interceptions.