By Mark Elkington
MADRID (Reuters) – Bayern Munich summoned up all
their famous resilience to oust Real Madrid in a nerve-jangling Champions League penalty shootout on Wednesday, denying Jose
Mourinho’s expensively-assembled side a tilt at a 10th European crown and setting up a final showdown against Chelsea next
month.
the penalty shootout as they qualify for the final at the end of their Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match
against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, April 25, 2012. REUTERS/Susana Vera
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stopped spot-kicks from Cristiano Ronaldo, who had given Real an early
2-0 lead in the semi-final second leg, and Kaka in the shootout before Bastian Schweinsteiger struck the decisive penalty to
send the Germans through to the title match to be played at their own Allianz Arena on May 19.
Bayern coach Jupp
Heynckes, who won the Champions League with Real in 1998, revelled in the German club’s unexpected but deserved triumph at
his former stomping ground in the Spanish capital, while Mourinho was left to ponder his side’s second consecutive
elimination at the last-four stage.
Real’s latest setback in Europe’s elite club competition is a huge blow for the
combative Portuguese and club president Florentino Perez, who has spent hundreds of millions of euros chasing the elusive
‘decima’, or 10th continental title.
It also left Spain in a state of shock after Chelsea survived the dismissal of
captain John Terry and fought back from two goals down to send holders Barcelona crashing out 3-2 on aggregate in their
semi-final second leg on Tuesday.
“We lost, we are sad and they are happy but that’s football,” Mourinho told Spanish
television. “Football is like that and whoever does not understand that can’t be part of it.”
FATAL
ERROR
After a disastrous start, Bayern showed considerable nerve to get back into the match following Ronaldo’s
double inside the first 14 minutes and Arjen Robben levelled to make the score 2-1 on the night and 3-3 on
aggregate.
Ironically, Ronaldo’s opener in the sixth minute was a confidently taken penalty, his 25th successive
success from the spot.
A pulsating first half with chances for both sides fell away after the break as with extra time
and possibly penalties looming the two European heavyweights curbed their attacking instincts for fear of committing a fatal
error.
A well-drilled Bayern were more than a match for Real, both sides striking nine shots on target, and played
some patient and controlled football that frustrated the home fans.
“It was a magnificent game and great penalty
shootout,” a beaming Heynckes told reporters.
“We didn’t want the first 15 minutes, to concede one and then two goals
especially here because everyone knows what it is like, but after that I think we dominated. Over the 120 minutes I think we
deserved it.”
With the clock ticking towards midnight local time and the Real faithful urging on their team, the two
sides lined up for the shootout before Neuer stunned the stadium and the hundreds of millions watching around the world by
leaping low to his right to deny former World Players of the Year Ronaldo and Kaka.
Iker Casillas kept Real’s hopes
alive by saving efforts from Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm but Sergio Ramos skied his penalty over the bar and Schweinsteiger
rifled the Bavarians through before tearing off his shirt and racing to the corner, where he was swallowed up in a throng of
his ecstatic team mates.
WEAK SHOT
“I have not witnessed something like that in 40 years of professional
football,” said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“This tops everything we experienced in the 70s and 80s. I am very
happy and very proud. That was top quality football.”
The home side had quickly cancelled out Bayern’s 2-1 first-leg
victory when Ronaldo netted his penalty after a handball in the area and the Portuguese produced a smart finish from the edge
of the box to put Real in the driving seat.
However, Bayern pulled a goal back when Robben also netted from the spot
after Mario Gomez had been bundled over by Pepe, although Casillas came desperately close to tipping the Dutchman’s effort
away.
Extra time was draining on Real, who had all but wrapped up La Liga with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Barca on
Saturday, and that tiredness proved costly at the end.
“I will lift my players appealing to their pride, I have
nothing to reproach them for, they have given their all,” Mourinho said.
Asked if he planned to stay on next season,
the former Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan manager added: “If the club and the players think I and they can keep bringing
something to this. I will continue.”
