Bayern, on the backfoot for much of the first half, struck on the hour with Robben cutting the ball back for Mario Mandzukic to poke home from close range.The German champions' joy was short-lived though as Dortmund levelled eight minutes later with Ilkay Guendogan's well-struck penalty awarded for a clumsy Dante challenge on Marco Reus.
 |
| Bayern Munich with Champions Trophy |
The Dutchman also provided the assist for Bayern's opening goal slotted home by Mandzukic before Gundogan equalised for Dortmund with a spot kick after a goalless first half.
This is Bayern's fifth European Cup and their first since 2001 and kept alive their hopes of a treble as they have already won the German league title and face VfB Stuttgart in the Cup final in Berlin next Saturday..
Bayern savoured victory after the disappointment of last season and in 2010 when they lost both finals.
"It's a final, we were at the same level, we both had our chances. I was able to push the ball through at the end," man of the match Robben said speaking to ZDF German TV."It means a lot to me. It's still hard to fathom. I'll be able to put it in words later. There are so many emotions right now, it's incredible.
 |
| Philip Lham with champions Trophy |
The match, played at a ferocious pace, was full of superb attacking football and seemed destined for extra time until Robben burst through a gap in the defence and rounded outstanding Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller to score.Dortmund began at blistering pace which they maintained for almost 30 minutes with Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski pulverising the Bayern defence.
Lewandowski had the first of their seven first-half scoring chances, powering in a 30-metre shot which goalkeeper Manuel Neuer turned over the bar for a corner.Neuer also made a superb stop when he stuck out his left leg to prevent Jakub Blaszczykowski scoring from close range after he was set up by Lewandowski.Bayern were virtually over-run at the start but battled back to create five good scoring chances of their own - three falling to Robben who could well have netted a hat-trick by halftime.
A poor touch scuppered the first when he had only Weidenfeller to beat, and the goalkeeper stopped him again by taking a shot straight in the face when Robben had the goal gaping just before the break.
 |
| Arjen Robben after scoring winning goal |
The game continued to be end-to-end for most of the second half, but Bayern gradually took control as Dortmund faded.The nature of the first two goals also reflected the see-saw game with Dortmund equalising just eight minutes after Bayern scored.Robben was at the heart of that opening goal, providing the final cross for Mandzukic to sweep home with his left foot from close range but the lead only lasted eight minutes before Dante's rash challenge on Reus gave Dortmund the penalty from which Guendogan scored.In the end, the balance swung Bayern's way with Robben's stunning solo goal making Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes only the fourth man to win the European Cup with two clubs after leading Real Madrid to victory in 1998.
"We're proud but also disappointed," Dortmund defender Mats Hummels said.
"Especially when you lose in the 89th minute on an almost accidental goal like that. It's enormously bitter. But at the end it looked like we were getting a little bit tired and Bayern took advantage of that."
Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said: "We didn't get into the game in the first half so I corrected a few things at the interval."There was pressure on both teams but we certainly felt the burden of being favourites in the first 20 minutes."
Dortmund's Klopp said: "First of all congratulations to Bayern. You have to respect the result."We were right in it, but at the end everything came together for Bayern and they finished off the game."
Dortmund stoppper Weidenfeller said: "We’re proud to have given Bayern a real game tonight. We played well but it wasn't meant to be."
No comments:
Post a Comment