Munich edge all-German final
Bayern Munich erased painful memories of last year's Champions League final loss to Chelsea by overcoming their German compatriots Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on Saturday evening.
Dortmund started quickly in the first 20 minutes of the match in front of a 90,000 capacity crowd in London and it seemed firm favourites Bayern would be in for a tough night. Borussia were quicker to every loose ball and moved the ball decisively when going forward. Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer kept his side in the match on a couple of occasions during the opening exchanges as the swarm of yellow shirts threatened to engulf their more illustrious opponents.
Bayern did find some form as the half went on, with winger Arjen Robben repeatedly causing the Dortmund defence concern. The Dutch wizard was twice denied by the onrushing Roman Weidenfeller in the Borussia goal; only his quick thinking to close Robben down saved his side from going behind.
At 0-0 when the half-time whistle sounded, it was all to play for and few could have confidently predicted the outcome of the match. The atmosphere from both sets of fans was deafening and there burgeoned a feeling that a special second period was in store for all in attendance.
And so it proved, when after 60 minutes Bayern took the lead through star striker Mandzukic from a fantastic cut-back from the left-hand edge of the box by Robben after he'd beaten the offside trap. The lead only lasted 7 minutes, though, as defender Dante raised his foot and planted it into the midrift of Marco Reus inside the penalty area. It was a penalty all day long despite Dante's apparent refusal to accept the fact and it handed Dortmund a huge opportunity to draw the scores level. The referee made a great decision in giving the penalty, but seemed to shirk the responsibility he surely held to hand Dante what would've been his second yellow card of the game. There's no doubt that the Italian official ducked out of sending the Brazilian centre-back off the field and Jurgen Klopp's men can feel aggrieved at the lack of severity shown in the overall decision.
There was no time for Gundogan to worry about it as he faced up to the prospect of beating Neuer from 12 yards. He was coolness personified as he stroked the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net, sending the Bayern keeper the wrong way.
Dortmund gained a boost from their leveller and the contest was finely poised as the teams entered the final stages. It appeared that only a moment of magic would seal the game without the need for extra-time and it was Arjen Robben that duly provided it. With just over a minute of normal time remaining, Robben took Franck Ribery's flick in his stride and slotted the ball wide of the stranded Borussia goalkeeper Weidenfeller, who could do nothing to adjust his body in time to stop the shot.
There was no time left for the crushed Dortmund players to come back at their Bavarian opponents and the final whistle saw scenes of joy for the men in red, while their foes fell to their knees in despair.
With the Champions League trophy in the bag to add to the Bundesliga shield, Bayern now advance to the German Cup final next week against Stuttgart in search of an astounding treble. Defeat there would do little to sour the fantastic season that Jupp Heynckes' boys have experienced, but what a fine way it would be to round off the most incredible of campaigns with the domestic cup to parade alongside the two pieces of silverware already safely tucked away in the pockets of their Lederhosen!
Head coach Heynckes leaves his job this summer in the knowledge that he can bow out at the very top of the sport, but also that his Bayern team finally got what they deserved after the huge disappointment suffered last May.
Twitter: @davewh1980
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