Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich: Robben earns redemption with late winner
The Dutch winger shook off the horrors of
his penalty miss in last season's showpiece to
give the Bundesliga champions European
glory in the most dramatic of circumstances
Arjen Robben buried the
demons of finals past with a
last-gasp goal to give Bayern
Munich the 2012-13
Champions League title with
a 2-1 victory over Borussia
Dortmund in the final at
Wembley on Saturday.
Dortmund were the superior
side during a captivating yet
goalless first half, forcing Manual Neuer into a
succession of saves - though opposite number Roman
Weidenfeller was also called into action more than
once.
With an hour gone, Mario Mandzukic put the
Bavarians ahead from close range, but a clumsy foul
by Dante on Marco Reus allowed Ilkay Gundogan to
level the scores from the penalty spot eight minutes
later.
But with one minute remaining in regulation time,
Arjen Robben stole in to squeeze the ball over the
line, and ensure that Bayern Munich took home the
trophy that eluded them in 2010 and 2012.
Mandzukic shook off competition from Mario Gomez
to lead the line for the Bavarians, and in defence,
Jerome Boateng edged out Daniel Van Buyten to
partner Dante.
With Mario Gotze unable to face his future club due
to a hamstring injury, Kevin Grosskreutz began on
the flanks for BVB, while Mats Hummels recovered
from a minor ankle complaint to start at the back.
Amid an electric atmosphere, Dortmund bossed the
opening exchanges, and with 11 minutes gone, Jakub
‘Kuba’ Blaszczykowski delivered a sign of things to
come with a half volley that flew off target.
Moments later, Robert Lewandowski, after
overrunning an earlier break, drew the first save of
the game from Manuel Neuer, who acrobatically yet
securely diverted his 20-yard piledriver over the bar.
Kuba was quickly at it again, calling Neuer into
action at his near post, and the Bayern keeper’s
reflexes were tested further when Reus and Sven
Bender angled low efforts on target in quick
succession.
Dortmund clearly had their Bundesliga rivals on the
ropes, but breathed a sigh of relief themselves 25
minutes in when Weidenfeller reacted splendidly to
tip away Mandzukic’s towering header.
And the BVB No. 1 did just as well to race off his line
and deny Robben, who broke clear but ignored his
teammates to shave an attempt at goal.
Dante then picked up the first booking of the game
for bringing down Kuba, but Franck Ribery would
escape punishment for raising an arm to
Lewandowski.
Both keepers remained in the spotlight for the
remainder of the half, Neuer denying Lewandowski
from in close, before Robben botched another one-
on-one, firing right at Weidenfeller after a miscue by
Hummels.
But Dortmund struggled to match the heights of their
enterprising first half, as Bayern seemed a far more
purposeful outfit after the break.
And right on the hour mark, Mandzukic would
come up with the goods. Robben did the hard work,
latching onto a smart Ribery feed to beat
Weidenfeller to the byline and square to the Croatian,
who guided the ball over the line.
But the lead would not last long. Dante caught Reus
in the stomach with his leg inside the area, leaving
the referee with little choice but to award a penalty –
though the Brazilin was lucky not to see a second
yellow card.
Lewandowski, who missed a penalty in the last
meeting between these two sides, took a backseat to
Gundogan, who drilled confidently into the bottom
corner, sending Neuer the wrong way.
It should have been 2-1 to Bayern in the 71st minute
after a nifty move and cross by Thomas Muller found
Robben waiting to tap into an empty net at the far
post, but somehow, Neven Subotic kept up to slide
the ball away magnificently.
The title was there for the taking as the match
entered its closing stages, and Weidenfeller had to
remain on his toes twice to beat away long-range
efforts from David Alaba and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
And in the 89th minute, Robben did just that,
breaking the offside trap to beat Weidenfeller with a
weak shot, and finally send the trophy back again to
the Allianz Arena.
his penalty miss in last season's showpiece to
give the Bundesliga champions European
glory in the most dramatic of circumstances
Arjen Robben buried the
demons of finals past with a
last-gasp goal to give Bayern
Munich the 2012-13
Champions League title with
a 2-1 victory over Borussia
Dortmund in the final at
Wembley on Saturday.
Dortmund were the superior
side during a captivating yet
goalless first half, forcing Manual Neuer into a
succession of saves - though opposite number Roman
Weidenfeller was also called into action more than
once.
With an hour gone, Mario Mandzukic put the
Bavarians ahead from close range, but a clumsy foul
by Dante on Marco Reus allowed Ilkay Gundogan to
level the scores from the penalty spot eight minutes
later.
But with one minute remaining in regulation time,
Arjen Robben stole in to squeeze the ball over the
line, and ensure that Bayern Munich took home the
trophy that eluded them in 2010 and 2012.
Mandzukic shook off competition from Mario Gomez
to lead the line for the Bavarians, and in defence,
Jerome Boateng edged out Daniel Van Buyten to
partner Dante.
With Mario Gotze unable to face his future club due
to a hamstring injury, Kevin Grosskreutz began on
the flanks for BVB, while Mats Hummels recovered
from a minor ankle complaint to start at the back.
Amid an electric atmosphere, Dortmund bossed the
opening exchanges, and with 11 minutes gone, Jakub
‘Kuba’ Blaszczykowski delivered a sign of things to
come with a half volley that flew off target.
Moments later, Robert Lewandowski, after
overrunning an earlier break, drew the first save of
the game from Manuel Neuer, who acrobatically yet
securely diverted his 20-yard piledriver over the bar.
Kuba was quickly at it again, calling Neuer into
action at his near post, and the Bayern keeper’s
reflexes were tested further when Reus and Sven
Bender angled low efforts on target in quick
succession.
Dortmund clearly had their Bundesliga rivals on the
ropes, but breathed a sigh of relief themselves 25
minutes in when Weidenfeller reacted splendidly to
tip away Mandzukic’s towering header.
And the BVB No. 1 did just as well to race off his line
and deny Robben, who broke clear but ignored his
teammates to shave an attempt at goal.
Dante then picked up the first booking of the game
for bringing down Kuba, but Franck Ribery would
escape punishment for raising an arm to
Lewandowski.
Both keepers remained in the spotlight for the
remainder of the half, Neuer denying Lewandowski
from in close, before Robben botched another one-
on-one, firing right at Weidenfeller after a miscue by
Hummels.
But Dortmund struggled to match the heights of their
enterprising first half, as Bayern seemed a far more
purposeful outfit after the break.
And right on the hour mark, Mandzukic would
come up with the goods. Robben did the hard work,
latching onto a smart Ribery feed to beat
Weidenfeller to the byline and square to the Croatian,
who guided the ball over the line.
But the lead would not last long. Dante caught Reus
in the stomach with his leg inside the area, leaving
the referee with little choice but to award a penalty –
though the Brazilin was lucky not to see a second
yellow card.
Lewandowski, who missed a penalty in the last
meeting between these two sides, took a backseat to
Gundogan, who drilled confidently into the bottom
corner, sending Neuer the wrong way.
It should have been 2-1 to Bayern in the 71st minute
after a nifty move and cross by Thomas Muller found
Robben waiting to tap into an empty net at the far
post, but somehow, Neven Subotic kept up to slide
the ball away magnificently.
The title was there for the taking as the match
entered its closing stages, and Weidenfeller had to
remain on his toes twice to beat away long-range
efforts from David Alaba and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
And in the 89th minute, Robben did just that,
breaking the offside trap to beat Weidenfeller with a
weak shot, and finally send the trophy back again to
the Allianz Arena.
Comments