Luck implies an element of fortune, and of destiny.
The decisive moment, Eric Djemba-Djemba's winner, also carried a sizable element of fortune.
There was an element of control, in that he realised he was in trouble and so twisted the bat for an uppercut, but there was a bigger element of fortune.
One run later Ashwell Prince became another Herath scalp, although there was an element of fortune about the departure as the ball came off the batsman's back pad and flicked the bat on its way to Jayawardene.
Guardiola's body language on the touchline certainly did not offer the impression of a man who liked what he saw and there was a considerable element of fortune about the game's decisive moment when Paddy McNair, one of the Sunderland substitutes, turned a right-wing cross into his own net.
Wolves' goal had an element of fortune, with some controversy about the corner that led to it, but Mick McCarthy's industrious side were good value for their point.
The move had the desired effect as United took the lead, although there was an element of fortune about their goal.
And the stalemate was broken as United took the lead just before the half hour with a goal that had an element of fortune.
There was also an element of fortune about the second Gunners goal, as Ramsey's clipped effort looped over Harper after taking a deflection off Robbie Brady.
In this sense, football is a complex game, with, on the one hand, a very strong competitive element (the most talented team wins) and, on the other, a certain element of fortune that can, in some cases, overturn any prediction.
