GARETH BALE CAME off the bench to score twice, including one of the all-time great goals in a Champions League final, as Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev on Saturday to take the trophy for the third year running.
Bale’s jaw-dropping overhead kick in the 64th minute put Real 2-1 up moments after his introduction, following a dramatic start to the second half in which Karim Benzema gave Real the lead as a result of a Loris Karius howler.
Sadio Mane had briefly restored parity, but Bale put Real in front again and then made it 3-1 late on with a long-range strike that the unfortunate Karius could only punch into the net.
Jurgen Klopp’s and Liverpool’s own evening was marred by the loss of a distraught Mohamed Salah to injury in the first half, the Egyptian coming off half an hour in having damaged his shoulder.
This was not to be Salah’s night, with Real allowing Zinedine Zidane to become the first coach ever to win the Champions League three years in a row.
GARETH BALE🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/75lld6RszQ
— Scudetto Sports (@scudettosports) May 26, 2018
Madrid are the first team to achieve that feat since Bayern Munich in 1976. This is their fourth title in five years, and their 13th overall.
Cristiano Ronaldo has now won five in his great career, but even he could not argue that this was Bale’s evening.
The Welshman had been tipped to feature in the Real starting line-up but in the end was left out for Isco — just as he had been in the final win over Juventus last year — before making an emphatic impact as a substitute.
- Salah’s tears -
For Liverpool, this game will be remembered for the disaster that befell goalkeeper Karius in the second half, and for Salah’s tears as he departed the pitch at the NSC Olympiyskyi.
The Egyptian hurt his left shoulder as he went down in a challenge with Sergio Ramos in the 25th minute. Five minutes later he made way for Adam Lallana.
His presence at the World Cup could now be in doubt, as could that of Dani Carvajal — the Real right-back came off with a hamstring injury before the interval.
Those injuries temporarily took the sting out of the game after an enthralling start, with Liverpool on top.
It had been uncomfortable for Real, but after Salah departed, they sensed their chance. They even had the ball in the net in the 43rd minute, only to be denied by a marginal offside call.
Ronaldo’s header from Isco’s cross was parried by Karius, and Benzema turned in the loose ball, but the Frenchman had come from a fraction ahead of the last defender and the flag came up.
If that was a let-off for Liverpool, they were their own worst enemies at the start of the second half.
- Careless Karius -
Isco struck the bar after Lallana diverted the ball into his path, before Benzema opened the scoring in the 51st minute.
It was a moment of unbelievable carelessness from Karius, who attempted to roll the ball out to the nearest red shirt only for Benzema to stick out a leg and send it trickling into the net.
Klopp’s side really could have let their heads drop, and yet they were soon back level, Mane turning the ball in after Dejan Lovren headed down James Milner’s corner.
But their renewed hope was crushed upon the introduction of Bale.
The Welshman had been on the field barely two minutes when he met Marcelo’s cross from the left with an improbable leap, back to goal, 15 yards out, to send an overhead kick on his left foot arcing over Karius and in.
Such a strike deserved to be the winner, although it was his long-range shot that beat the embarrassed Karius in the 83rd minute that made sure of the victory.
Mane hit the post for Liverpool in between Bale’s strikes, but they will have to wait a while yet before winning their sixth European Cup.
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I thought Eoin Murphy was incredible yesterday and was a clear man of the match, without him Kilkenny would not have been in the match near the end. Pundits seem to pick the winning team most of the time.
Eoin Murphy has to get an all star for that performance alone
There were many worthy winners from both games, Eoin Murphy produced the greatest display of goalkeeping I’ve ever seen. That said Tom Morrissey put in a huge performance for Limerick.
Podge has been immense for Clare this year, his work rate was incredible, he’s back to his best after a few tough years. Tony Kelly is also a notable mention.
Eoin Murphy was MOTM yesterday by a distance.
As a kilkenny supporter, I know we’re out of the championship, but Eoin has also done enough in Kilkenny’s seven cship games to ensure he gets an allstar award come years end.
@sean de paore: He was top class but losing quarter finalists don’t get any all stars. Rightly or wrongly, that’s just the way it is. Many years Kilkenny got 9 all stars after only playing two serious matches so it works both ways.
@Mike: national league winners often do though so he’s in with a shout. The new format changes things too.
@Mike: many a year Waterford got all-stars and hurlers of the year an won sweet F-all aswell
@Philip McLoughlin: Ah they got to the semi final in those years to be fair. I’d like to think the new format will deliver all stars to players who consistently excelled in their province but I wouldn’t hold my breath. The two finalists will still hoover up 11 or 12 with the semi finalists getting the last 3 or 4.
@Mike: Brian Lohan was All-star full back in 1996 based on Clare’s single championship outing that year against Limerick.
I know that’s a bit mad, but there is no better keeper out there than Eoin Murphy, he’s probably going to go down as the greatest.
Eoin Murphy was man of match by a mile best keeper since Damien fitzhenry I think.
@Declan Breen: I’d say better, this guy has everything, cat like reflexes, superb ball skills, but his long range free taking and ability to attack the ball and launch an attack is a massive bonus.