GREATER LONDON -- Arjen Robben scored with the 89th minute Saturday giving Bayern Munich a 2-1 triumph over German rival Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final, conclusion four years of discouragement for his team within Europe's biggest tournament.
Robben ran on to Franck Ribery's backheeled flick with the penalty box and with ease slotted the ball past goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller to allow Bayern its first Champs League victory since 2001. The German team had lost two in the last three finals, including on penalties to Chelsea last year in its own stadium in Munich.
In a game title that featured a multitude of chances for either teams, Mario Mandzukic put Bayern ahead inside 60th minute at Wembley Arena before Ilkay Gundogan leveled in the penalty spot eight a matter of minutes later, after defender Dante fouled Marco Reus in your community.
Robben, who missed two great chances within the first half, then finally came through for Bayern align off wild celebrations inside red-and-white end of Wembley. It was subsequently the perfect redemption with regard to Robben, who missed a penalty in more time of last year's previous, causing some Bayern fans to turn against him. A year later, after the finalized whistle sounded in Manchester, he received undivided adulation as he strode together with his arms raised toward the element of jubilant Bayern fans.
"It is very even. They have chances, we had probability, " Robben said. "Then the last minute, I was quicker on the ball. I missed a few chances before that but I stayed calm. "
Robben also set up the first goal for Bayern, taking a excrete from Ribery and illustrating Weidenfeller out toward your touchline before squaring designed for Mandzukic, who could hardly miss by a few yards out.
But the lead didn't last much time. Dante clumsily clattered into Reus in the area, and Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli pointed with the spot. Gundogan sent Manuel Neuer the wrong way before calmly slotting his spot kick in the right side of online.
The European Cup title caps an awesome season for Bayern, which broke tons of Bundesliga records in running away with the German league title — completing an unprecedented 25 points before second-place Dortmund. It can still complete a treble, since it faces Stuttgart in a German Cup final next Saturday.
Regardless of that will result, coach Jupp Heynckes could leave the German powerhouse in perfect style. Heynckes, who is stepping down afre the wedding of the season, won his second Champions League trophy after leading Real Madrid on the title in 1998. He may be replaced by Pep Guardiola next season, but the former Barcelona coach will have a hard time improving on this Bayern facet — which dismantled that Spanish giants 7-0 on aggregate inside semifinals.
For Dortmund, it is actually another bitter runner-up stop to its main similar, having seen Bayern end its two-year hold on the Bundesliga title.
"We are extremely proud to have given them a great contest, " Weidenfeller proclaimed. "But we didn't seem to win. We gave much of our best. We'll be rear next season. "
Bayern entered the game as the clear favorite, although that message didn't manage to have filtered through to help Juergen Klopp's Dortmund company, which seemed intent on dictating play before it starts. They largely succeeded with the first 25 minutes to boot, although it was Bayern that ended up with the best chances with the first half.
Mandezukic came closest as soon as his header was tipped upon the bar by Weidenfeller with the 26th, and the goalkeeper subsequently denied Robben four minutes later when speedy winger raced transparent on goal.
Before this, Neuer had been definitely the busier goalkeeper, make point-blank save from Jakub Blaszczykowski and diving to stop an effort from Sven Bender. Neuer at the same time pushed away long-range initiatives from Reus and Robert Lewandowski, before denying the Improve striker again from close range with the 35th.
Robben had the end chance of the about half when he beat Mats Hummels for a long ball into the area in the 42nd, but fired his volley inside Weidenfeller's face.
After Dortmund's equalizer, Thomas Mueller had a way to win it for Bayern when he rounded Weidenfeller, but his shot with a tight angle was cleared heli-copter flight line by Neven Subotic. Weidenfeller at the same time made good late helps you to save from David Alaba together with Bastian Schweinsteiger, before being helpless to give up Robben's winner.
No comments:
Post a Comment