May 25, 2013 -- Updated 2250 GMT (0650 HKT)
A year after losing the Champions League final at home, Bayern Munich
beat Borussia Dortmund in this season's finale at Wembley. FULL STORY
Redemption for Bayern Munich in Champions League
May 25, 2013 -- Updated 2220 GMT (0620 HKT)
Bayern Munich players lift the
trophy as they celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League final after
beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday,
May 25.
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Champions League Final: Dortmund vs. Bayern
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Arjen Robben's late goal gives Bayern Munich the Champions League title
- Robben also set up Mario Mandzukic's goal early in the second half
- Robben missed a penalty in extra time as Bayern lost to Chelsea in the 2012 final
- Borussia Dortmund fails in its bid to win a second Champions League crown
The woe is over, too, for
Arjen Robben, who scored the winner in the 89th minute and set up Mario
Mandzukic's opener in the 60th. Ilkay Gundogan's penalty in the 68th
had pulled Dortmund level prior to Robben's nifty decider.
Robben was labeled a
villain by Bayern fans last year, when he missed a penalty and other
opportunities in the final against Chelsea.
"I do not know how many
times I dreamed about it but I said to many people that tonight was
going to be our night," Robben told Sky Sports.
No wonder he was celebrating wildly at the final whistle.
Indeed the euphoria among
Bayern players at Wembley was fully understandable, since this was a
team that had lost three of its four previous finals, two in agonizing
fashion.
It began in 1999.
Minutes away from beating
Manchester United, two injury-time goals from the Red Devils deprived
Munich and led to one of the most lasting images in Champions League
history -- defender Samuel Kuffour overflowing in tears and pounding the
turf at Barcelona's Nou Camp in frustration.
Kuffour would later say it was destiny for United.
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The same, perhaps, could have been uttered when Chelsea inflicted more heartache in 2012 in Bayern Munich's own stadium.
With Bayern firmly in
control of the game at 1-0, this time a late effort from Chelsea striker
Didier Drogba tied proceedings and prompted extra time -- when Robben
didn't captalize from the spot -- and then penalties.
Paying the price for
missed opportunities -- Robben and striker Mario Gomez were particularly
guilty -- Chelsea prevailed to give the Blues their first trophy in
football's most prestigious club competition.
Another English team had
gotten the better of Bayern Munich. The heart of Bayern's midfield,
Bastian Schweinsteiger, was on that occasion inconsolable, mirroring
Kuffour.
"We knew after last season what we needed to do and we have improved," Robben said.
There was a sense of
destiny about Dortmund, since Jurgen Klopp's men scored two injury-time
goals in the second leg of the quarterfinals against Malaga to advance.
But when Borussia
Dortmund couldn't convert its superiority in the first half into goals,
Bayern Munich slowly got into the game.
Bayern, which won the
Bundesliga title by 25 points over Dortmund and crushed Barcelona in the
semifinals of the Champions League, now has the chance to emulate the
United team of 1999 and achieve the treble. Jupp Heynckes' men will be
the heavy favorite in the German Cup final on June 1 against VfB
Stuttgart.
If not for a tax scandal
involving Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, who was at Wembley, the
season could almost be classified as perfect.
Some would ask: "Who
needs Pep Guardiola?" But his arrival next season, replacing Heynckes,
potentially heralds an exciting period. He can take advantage of a
highly skilled side in implementing his possession based style.
Mario Gotze will add to
Munich's impressive squad, making the move from Dortmund in the
off-season. An awkward scenario in the final was avoided since
midfielder Gotze, described as a "once in a century player" by German
legend Matthias Sammer, missed out due to injury.
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Is Manchester City manager Mancini out?
Dortmund striker Robert
Lewandowski, whose four goals in the semifinals against Real Madrid
bolstered his reputation further, is being linked with a move to Bayern.
In short, the future could bring even more trophies.
What must Dortmund --
thought of by some as a team of destiny after its injury-time comeback
in the quarterfinals against Malaga -- be thinking?
It was Dortmund, which
nearly went bankrupt in 2005, who made the much brighter start, even
though Klopp appeared anxious as he took his spot on the bench.
While Dortmund's fans
clad in team colors of yellow and black sang in the stands, the usual
smile on his face wasn't to be found.
Polish international
Jakub Blaszczykowski's shot from outside the box might have sailed
harmlessly over the bar in the 10th minute, but it signaled the start of
an impressive spell.
Lewandowski, much sought after, made a fine run inside the box before he ran out of room and was unable to deliver a cross.
A minute later, Lewandowski's curled effort from distance was comfortably pushed over the bar by Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer.
Neuer, the German No. 1,
would be busy in the next 10 minutes, stopping Blaszczykowski with his
legs from close range -- his best save of the evening -- keeping out
Marco Reus' left-footed strike and thwarting Sven Bender.
Neuer was unusually busy, since he averaged a mere two saves per game all season.
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Such was Bayern's
frustration that winger Franck Ribery used an arm to cast aside
Lewandowski. Former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness, an analyst for
British television, said Ribery deserved a red card.
Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli, however, didn't even show him a yellow. Rizzoli would be in the spotlight later.
Bayern finally worked its way into the game midway in the half.
Ribery found himself in
space on the left and put in an inviting cross for striker Mandzukic --
who started ahead of German international Gomez. His header was tipped
over the bar by Roman Weidenfeller.
On the ensuing corner, midfielder Javi Martinez leapt the highest, though his header didn't hit the target.
Now Weidenfeller was busy.
He made himself big to
deny Robben and near the end of the half, defender Mats Hummels
misjudged a ball in the air to hand the alert Robben a second chance.
Weidenfeller utilized his face to keep the match scoreless at the
interval.
Dortmund didn't start as well in the second half, yet wasn't put under any pressure by Bayern.
That changed in the 59th
minute, when Mandzukic's header fell straight to Weidenfeller. The shot
was tame, but Dortmund's frailty in the air was again exposed.
Bayern took the lead a minute later, as Robben finally dealt with Weidenfeller.
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When Weidenfeller
charged off his line, Robben went around the German and sent a low cross
to Mandzukic, who had the simplest of tap ins.
Bayern was on its way. Or was it?
Needing to stay tight at
the back for the next 10 minutes, Bayern defender Dante gave Dortmund a
lifeline. He completely missed his clearance in the box and kicked Reus
in the stomach.
Rizzoli awarded Dortmund the penalty, but Dante -- already booked -- didn't receive a second yellow.
Stopped three weeks ago
by Neuer on a penalty, Lewandowski gave way to IIkay Gundogan. The
diminutive midfielder sent Neuer the wrong way in the 68th.
Bayern fans must have
thought it was déjà vu, especially when Dortmund defender Neven Subotic
made a last-ditch clearance with Robben about to pounce from a yard out.
Both teams continued to
press forward, and Weidenfeller dived to his left to stop David Alaba.
Rizzoli waived play on when Thomas Muller felt he was impeded by
Subotic, the last man, but Bayern's angst didn't last long.
With Dortmund's defense unable to clear, Robben waltzed into the box and deftly wrong-footed Weidenfeller.
It was redemption for Robben and Bayern.
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