Now it’s
Arjen Robben in headline once again, scored the dramatic last gasp winner only
90 seconds to remain, crowned Bayern Munich this time in a well contested match
where Bayern edge past Borussia Dortmund by 2-1 margin in the final of UEFA
Champions League at the Wembley stadium lastnight.
Mario Mandzukic put Bayern ahead in the 60th
minute of the game, Ilkay Gundogan levelled the issue for Dortmund, Robben
scored the decider for Bayern in the 89th minute, done the
redemption of last year final’s horrific penalty miss.
This is Bayern’s fifth Champions League triumph in their tenth final
appearance while its Dortmund’s first Champions League final defeat in their
second appearance.
Typical Dortmund,
they've started with a lot of high pressure. And typical Bayern, they're
totally calm about it. Bayern did this when Barcelona tried its own brand of
pressing and really offered a clinic in how to counter it: physical, possession
soccer with an eye toward the quick counter through the likes of Schweinsteiger
through the middle and Robben/Ribery on the flanks.
Dortmund dominated the most of the first half stage, they remained
superior in ball possession.
Reus with a chance! He
makes it to the edge of the penalty area and tests Neuer with a shot from 18
yards out. But Neuer punches safely away. No danger from the ensuing corner, Dortmund looked likelier to score here.
Bayern got their first positive chance in the 31st minute
when Robben got a loose ball inside the box, take a
sharp turn & took a shot,
found the face of the Dortmund custodian Weidenfeller only.
Manuel Neur denied Lewandowski in the 39th minute by doing an
excellent exhibition of goal-keeping.
First half ended in a goalless stalemate.
Though Bayern Bayern had a distinct advantage the second half start hadn't
been quite as frantic as the conclusion of the first.
In the meantime the Bavarians got their first
goal in the 60th minute, that was a fruit of Ribery, Robben
combination, played one two between them before releasing the ball to Mario
Mandzukic who just slotted the ball inside the empty net put his side 1-0
ahead.
Bayern surrendered their
lead while Gundogan levelled for the Dortmund from the spot just 8 minutes later
following a clumsy foul made by Dante to defend Marco Ruis, Dante raised his
foot into the body of the Reus, Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli spotted exactly,
blew whistle & pointed towards the spot.
Bayern looking for an instant response occupied a corner in the other
hand the rejuvenated Dortmund fans thought they had another one coming just now
as their side broke forward with incredible speed and seemingly no defenders to
stop them. They didn't quite have enough men in support of Reus and so the shot
from the edge of the area in the 71st minute wasn't the best chance.
It sailed over.
Meanwhile Thomas Muller for Bayern almost got rid of Weidenfeller in the
72nd minute, seemed to put his side in
front. But sliding Subotic
chased it down and, right before the ball crossed the line, averted the danger.
It’s raining attacks on the Dortmund box.
Alebao tested the Dortmund keeper from a long ranger in the 75th
minute.
Schweinsteiger’s powerful long ranger fisted away by Dortmund custodian
once again in the 87th minute, danger averted in the exchange of a
corner.
Ribery trapped a long ranger ball in front of the Dortmund’s six yard
box coming from the behind, delivered a pin-point pass to Arjen Robben who
brilliantly freed himself before, slot the ball inside the net only 90 seconds
to remain in
the schedule time.
Robben has not only written his name in fairytale of Bayern Munich as
well as he succeeded to wipe out his own misery of last year final’s penalty miss in extra time
due to which Bayern succumbed to Chelsea.
I originally thought Bayern was going to overpower Dortmund lastnight,
but that really hadn't been the case. Dortmund's been physical enough at the
back and has made this into a quick-passing contest rather than the kind of
midfield slugging match that Bayern thrives in.