UEFA Champions: Real beats Dortmund to clinch 15th title
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London: The Spanish football giants Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League title on Saturday in the final battle against the German Borussia Dortmund, winning their sixteenth tournament title and sixth in a decade. Goals scored by Antonio Carvajal and Vinicius Junior in the second half gave Madrid their dream title.
Both sides failed to score in the first half in front of a raucous crowd at London's Wembley Stadium. It was Real who had the ball for most of the time, but Dortmund's players constantly terrorized their goal. Dortamund's Kareem Adeyemi had a golden opportunity in the 21st minute but was missed, unfortunately. Only goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was in front when he received the ball. However, as soon as the goalkeeper's attempt to score failed, the defenders came and blocked him. Immediately, Niklas Fulkrug's shot hit the post, and Dortmund missed another chance. Karim Adeyemi had another chance, but this time, the Real Madrid goalkeeper made a brilliant save.
The second half witnessed complete dominance by Real Madrid. In the 48th minute, Toni Kroos fired a free kick in Real's favour after Vinicius Jr was felled near the box, but Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel made a brilliant save. Then Kobel saved Carvajal's attempt also. In the 63rd minute, Thibaut Courtois saved Real after blocking Fulkrug's diving header. Occasionally, Vinicius Jr., Rodrigo and Jude Bellingham rushed towards the Dortmund goal but failed to break through the defence.
However, in the 74th minute, Royal scored a decisive goal. The goal was born from an unexpected corner kick. Dani Carvajal deflected a Toni Kroos kick into the Dortmund net with a bullet header. From then on, Real Madrid had a flood of opportunities. Jude Bellingham had a golden opportunity, but the shot got deflected after gracing a defender's leg and missed the target.
Dortamund goal keeper Kobel successfully stopped scoring attempt by Toni Kroos in free-kick Real for Mat Hummels felling Camavinga next to the box. He also saved Camavinga's shot as well as Nacho's header. However, Real scored a second goal with eight minutes remaining. Vinicius Junior, who received the ball after a mistake by Dortmund player Maston, hit the post without making a mistake.
Though Fulkrug hit the target in the 87th minute with a header for Dortmund, he was caught in the offside trap. After that, their efforts to fight back failed and once again, the European champion title went to Real Madrid's showcase. Toni Kroos, who played his last game for Real, was given a sent-off by his teammates with the trophy.