Saturday | 5 October 2024 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Saturday | 5 October 2024 | Epaper
BREAKING: ● Ex-president Badruddoza Chowdhury passes away      ● Killing during students' movement: 9 bodies to be exhumed in Sylhet      ● Malaysian prime minister leaves Dhaka for home      ● CA seeks Malaysian support for Bangladesh to be ASEAN dialogue partner      ● Malaysian PM assures of attention to 18,000 Bangladesh workers       ● Bid to kill Khaleda Zia: Sheikh Hasina among 113 sued      ● Thundershowers with 60 km/h wind likely to hit 17 regions      

Nerves give way to joy as 15th European crown celebrated in Madrid

Published : Monday, 3 June, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 307
LONDON, JUNE 2: Real Madrid withstood a Borussia Dortmund barrage to win the Champions League for a 15th time as Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior struck late in a 2-0 win at Wembley on Saturday.

Right-back Carvajal headed in from Toni Kroos corner on 74 minutes before Vinicius fired home to extend the Spanish giants record as the most successful club in Champions League history.

Madrid have now won their last nine European Cup finals and won the competition six times in the last 11 seasons.

However, not for the first time in that run, they had to rely on some good fortune as underdogs Dortmund were left to bitterly regret not making the most of their first-half chances.

Niclas Fuellkrug hit the post and Karim Adeyemi failed to convert a one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois.

Madrid, though, always seem to find a way in Europes elite competition and made more history in London.

"They left us alive with the game level and in the second half we started to play better," said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"This squad leaves me very satisfied because we don always play our best but we never give up."

Carvajal, Kroos, Nacho and Luka Modric joined Real legend Paco Gento as the only players to win the European Cup six times.

Ancelotti also extended his record as the most successful coach in the competitions history with his fifth title.

A record number of more than 2,500 stewards were in place at Wembley with the authorities keen to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes that marred the Euro 2020 final three years ago when ticketless fans stormed the turnstiles.

But further questions over the security operation will be raised as three pitch invaders were able to enter the field in the opening minutes of the game, with one taking photos alongside Jude Bellingham and Vinicius.

The Metropolitan Police said there had been 53 arrests, including five for pitch invasions.

Ancelotti said pre-match he felt "like a lion" after an afternoon siesta, but his side were caught napping for the first 45 minutes as, roared on by the travelling thousands from Germany, Dortmund dominated.

The decision to recall Courtois for his first Champions League appearance of the season after a serious knee injury paid dividends as the Belgian kept his side in the game.

Dortmunds best chances fell to Adeyemi as Carvajal could not deal with the German internationals pace.

A brilliant pass by Mats Hummels put Adeyemi clean through, but he took a heavy touch under pressure from Courtois and ran too wide before his shot was blocked by Carvajal.

Fuellkrugs barrel-chested physique has made him a fan favourite in his first season at Dortmund.

The German international striker came closest to breaking the deadlock before half-time when his effort from Ian Maatsens through ball came back off the inside of the post.

Adeyemi was then denied once more by Courtois from a narrow angle and Fuellkrug could not twist his frame to turn in the rebound.

"We didn show the efficiency to score," said Dortmund boss Edin Terzic.

"We were close to taking the lead but then there was a momentum shift where the game turned around and you see why they are the champions of this competition."

Ancelotti, Nacho and Modric were keen to stress on the eve of the match that Madrids habit of finding a way to get over the line in the Champions League was no coincidence.

Having ridden their luck once more in the first half, the Spanish champions found their feet in the second period.

Gregor Kobel was finally forced into a save on 48 minutes from Kroos, who came close to marking the final game of his club career with a spectacular free-kick.

Bellingham was moulded into a world star during three years at Dortmund before leaving for Madrid 12 months ago for more than 100 million euros ($108 million).

The England international was inches away from biting the hand that used to feed him as he just could not get a telling touch on Vinicius teasing cross.

Madrid landed the decisive blow 16 minutes from time when Carvajal rose highest to head in Kroos corner.

Kobel then briefly kept his side alive with fine saves from Eduardo Camavinga and Nacho, while Bellinghams goalbound effort was deflected behind by Nico Schlotterbeck.

But Bellingham did have a moment to savour on his homecoming as his pass teed up Vinicius to kill off Dortmund despite Kobel getting a hand to the Brazilians powerful shot.    —AFP



LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Swiatek splits with coach Wiktorowski
Finally beaten Madrid aiming for Villarreal rebound in La Liga
Top EU court finds against FIFA in key transfer market ruling
Rising Kenya athletics star Anyango fails doping test
FIFA defers decision on call to suspend Israel
Top seed Sabalenka stunned by Muchova in Beijing last eight
Ten Hag faces make-or-break trip to Aston Villa
Sinner not 'comfortable' as doping case clouds Shanghai campaign
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: info©dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝