European Football Championship Tournament - Football turmoil in Munich: Last-minute penalty stuns Bayern
Bayern and Real players walked confidently, their heads held high, preparing for the crucial encounter between the great champions in Madrid in front of their home crowds.
In a remarkable turn of events, Bayern fought back with goals from Leroy Sané (53') and Harry Kane (57'), stunning Munich in the first round of the Champions League classic by tying the game at 2-2 (0-1) after a late penalty by Vinicius Junior (83'). Earlier, Vinicius had scored the first goal for Real (24') following a phenomenal pass from Toni Kroos.
Commenting on the match, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said on Amazon Prime, "They managed to score from two chances, just like they do to everyone. It feels a bit strange now, but the situation is clear. We don't need to think about it; it's 90 minutes, possibly 120 minutes, or a penalty shootout. We need to win in Madrid and go on to Wembley."
Despite the setback, Bayern has a chance at progressing, as they are only one goal behind. However, they'll have to outdo themselves in the semi-final's second leg to qualify for the finals in Spain next Wednesday, which would bring them back to London after 11 years since their Wembley victory. Real, too, has a similar prospect, with their opponents in the final potentially being Borussia Dortmund, who are up against Paris Saint-Germain in the other semi-final.
A night made for soccer excitement
The conditions were perfect for this gripping clash: a delightful warm summer evening with an electrifying atmosphere. Bayern fans greeted their team with a massive banner honoring Franz Beckenbauer, who led Bayern to their inaugural triumph in the cup competition 50 years ago.
Friendliness prevailed between the teams in the dressing room, but the relaxed demeanor quickly vanished when the whistle blew. Bayern took control, putting pressure on their opponents. Just a few seconds in, Sané's shot was denied by a fantastic save from Real's keeper Andrij Lunin. In the seventh minute, Sané missed a chance, followed by Kane's attempt (9') to lob the ball over from half-way, while Lunin was out of his box. A thrilling start.
Steep pass from Kroos with superb setup
However, Real's nerves started to fray. Kroos, a national team returnee, assumed more control of the now-tensed game. His outstanding pass through midfield and Bayern's defense gave Vinicius Junior an opportunity to score, ending in a jubilant celebration in the center circle for Kroos.
A goal conceded from their first chance gave Bayern a boost, who were without Matthijs de Ligt but were able to field three recently injured players: Musiala, Sané, and Laimer. Tuchel encouraged Sané and Goretzka at the break, who returned in the second half with a powerful free-kick narrowly missing the goal (42').
The double attack that changed the game's course
Tuchel made changes at halftime, bringing in the more robust Raphael Guerreiro for Goretzka. Sané moved to the right flank briefly, and Musiala took a swing at the right. Their goal: a tie or better. But Kroos (51') almost scored another goal for the visitors. However, he was denied by a sensational save from Neuer, Bayern's substitute keeper.
Then, the game took a dramatic turn: Sané made a breakthrough and, emulating Robben, who was commentating on the match, slotting a left-footed shot into the far corner. His first goal in six months. But that wasn't all - Musiala was fouled in the penalty area, and Kane was tasked with converting the penalty. The energetic atmosphere at the stadium lit up even more, thanks to the 24-second double strike.
Kane narrowly missed netting again (66'), and Dier couldn't beat Lunin with a header, while Kim's foul on Rodrygo ended Bayern's attack and ignited passions in Madrid.
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Source: www.stern.de
