Saturday 25 May 2013

BAYERN CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE AS LATE ROBBEN GOAL SEES OFF DORTMUND

BAYERN MUNICH 2 BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1
By Ricky Butler at Wembley
 
ARJEN Robben scored a dramatic late winner as Jupp Heynckes' Bayern Munich lifted the Champions League for a fifth time in a thrilling all-German final at Wembley on Saturday night.

Robben, who had missed several earlier chances, made no mistake with a close range finish two minutes time as Bayern brandished the demons of defeat in their own back yard a year ago, making it the perfect send off for the retiring Heynckes.

"I can't put it into words," said the former Chelsea winger at the whistle." I have so many emotions. Last year was such a disappointment and in the last four years we've been to three finals - it needed to happen. But we still had to do it. My whole career went through my mind when I scored, it is such a special feeling you can't describe it.

"You don't want to be a loser every time, coming always in second place. We deserved to win it. I have dreamt about it many times. Everybody I spoke to before the game said it was our night and I had a great feeling.

"We knew after last season what needed to be done to improve and that is what we did. We are already going into the history books."

With the clock ticking down towards the 90 minute mark, Robben latched on to flick from Franck Ribery before beating Matt Hummels and rolling a shot past Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller from eight yards to give German champions Bayern the trophy for a fifth time.

An exciting final had sparked into life when Mario Mandzukic had given Bayern the lead on the hour after good work from Robben, but Dortmund were level soon after as Ilkay Gundogan scored from the spot. Then with extra time looming, Robben wrote his name into the history books.
Dortmund had started well with Bayern's Manuel Neuer the busier of the two goalkeepers in early stages. The German did well to tip a Robert Lewandoski effort from distance over the top before distinguishing himself again to deny Marco Reus, Jacab Blaszczykouski and Thomas Bender, all in the opening 20 minutes.

But Bayern finally began to settle and Weidenfeller was forced tip a header from Mandzukic onto the top of the crossbar after 27 minutes, before the 32 year-old was out smartly two minutes later to block a weak effort from Robben.
Lewandowski was left frustrated by Neuer again 10 minutes before the break after turning Jerome Boateng inside the penalty area, but it was Bayern who could have gone in at half time with a lead to defend.

Robben again saw the whites of Weidenfeller’s eyes following a long ball over the top by Bastian Schweinsteiger, but his shot from 12 yards smacked the Dortmund stopper full in the face and it remained goalless at the break.

However, Bayern did make the breakthrough on the hour. Robben was the creator, linking well with Ribery down the left, rounding Weidenfeller and squeezing the ball across for Mandzukic to tap home.
But the lead lasted barely six minutes. Brazilian defender Dante, who had been booked in the first half, impeded Reus in the penalty area and Gundogan coolly sent Neuer the wrong way from the spot.

The final really opened up after that as Dortmund's Croatian defender Nevan Subotic was forced into a terrific goal-line clearance from Thomas Muller with Robben waiting to pounce, while at the other end, Lewandowski was denied a wonder goal when his dipping 30 yard volley was ruled out for handball.
David Alaba then produced a fine save from Weidenfellar as Bayern finished strongly, while Schweinsteiger came close with a powerful drive from 25 yards that was pushed away by the outstanding Dortmund goalkeeper.

But Bayern won it two minutes from time. Robben burst into the area, skipped past Hummels and stabbed the ball past Weidenfellar from close range. A scruffy finish perhaps but a vital one nonetheless.

Delighted Bayern coach 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 coach Jurgen Klopp was more philosophical. "First of all congratulations to Bayern, as they won. After the game, you have to respect the result.

"I did not see the winning goal a second time, it was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation. It was late in the game, it was a really hard season for us and I saw that from 75 minutes on.

"We deserved to be in the final, we showed this tonight. That is not the most important thing, but it is important."

"People have climbed Mount Everest and had to turn around 10m from the top, but at least they've tried. And we've tried too," he said.

Bayern will now look to complete the treble when they face Stuttgart in the German cup final next weekend.

BAYERN MUNICH – Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba, Martinez, Scweinsteiger, Robben, Muller, Ribery, Mandzukic.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND – Weidenfeller, Paszcek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmeizer, Bender, Gundogan, Blaszczykouski, Reus, Grobkreutz, Lewandowski.

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