Thursday 26 April 2012

UEFA: Real out in penalty shootout

After Barcelona, now it's Real Madrid which was thrown out of UEFA Champion League last night. Two unbelievable semi-finals have seen off two Spanish clubs. The dream of an El Clasico final dissolved in dramatic fashion. Jose Mourinho's dream of becoming the first coach to win the European Cup with three different clubs was also shattered.

After the penalty shootout, it is clear that Bayern would look to become the first team since Inter Milan in 1965 to lift the trophy at their Home when they play against Chelsea at the Allianz on May 19.


Bastian Schweinsteiger scored the decisive penalty in a shootout that took Heynckes' side through 3-3 on aggregate and 3-1 on penalties.


Things started well for Ronaldo and his side as they were awarded with a spot รข€“kick only in the sixth minute of the match, after the hand ball from Alaba. Ronaldo magnificently struck the goal placing it perfectly into the bottom right corner. In the fourteenth minute he struck again, providing his team a 2-0 valuable lead.


But it wasn't going to be a ride in the park for the Los Blancos. After Pepe pushed Gomez in the area, the visitors were also awarded with the second penalty of the match. This proved the turning point of the match as A. Robben squeezes it home.


The match could have finished in a different manner without penalty shootout but it was the excellent goalkeeping of Iker Casillas and Manuel Neuer which was responsible for the match to go in to the shootout. Together they have saved nine goals out of twelve shots on target.


For the home side, it will be a penalty shootout they will never want to watch again. For a side that claims some of the best attacking names in the world like Ronaldo, Kaka and few more it was a disastrous penalty shootout.


David Alaba as well as Mario Gomez were successful to send Casillas the wrong way while Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka both found Manuel Neuer. But, Casillas saved penalties from both Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso struck goal for the hosts. At that time, it looked like the home side was back with a chance.


Ramos' miss was the nightmare for Jose Mourinho's side as Bastian Schweinsteiger then found the back of the net with Bayern's fifth penalty. It was all over for the Real Madrid. Unlike Barcelona though, they can still hope now for the La Liga title. 


 

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