First blood ... Robert Lewandowski celebrates his first-half goal (Getty)
Striker Robert Lerwandowski's clinical finish helped hand Borussia Dortmund a fine 2-1 win over Real Madrid and move the German champion to the top of Group D of the UEFA Champions League.
Lewandowksi fired the host into the lead on 36 minutes but within two minutes Real were level as Cristiano Ronaldo lobbed in his fifth Champions League goal of the season.
However, Dortmund was the stronger side after half-time and deservedly got the winner midway through the half as Iker Casillas' weak punch was seized upon by Marcel Schmelzer, who sealed a famous night for Jurgen Klopp's men.
Real has now only won once in 24 games in Germany but it was nearly a familiar face that undid the host early on as Ronaldo burst down the left after just six minutes and his low cross should have been put away by Mesut Ozil but the German international prodded wide.
Casillas was then called into action for the first time on 12 minutes by a low effort from Sebastian Kehl, before Real's other Germany international, Sami Khedira, was replaced by Luka Modric after pulling up with a muscle injury.
The change did not seem to unduly unsettle the visitor, though, as they continued to have the better of the play, but both Angel Di Maria and Ronaldo fired wastefully off target when presented with good shooting opportunities.
Kehl forced Casillas into an even better save with another long-range effort just before the half-hour mark from Mario Gotze's cutback, but the Bundesliga champion did go in front eight minutes later when Kehl pounced on a wayward pass by Pepe to release Lewandowski and he made no mistake with an emphatic finish inside Casillas' left-hand post.
The lead only lasted seconds, though, as Ozil's long ball forward was not cut out by Lukasz Pisczek and Ronaldo comfortably lofted the ball over the advancing Roman Weidenfeller who should probably have stayed on his line.
The home side reacted brightly to the equaliser at the start of the second period and Casillas had to be sharp to turn behind efforts from Gotze and Marco Reus, however, as is so often the case, Real was enjoying the space it was being allowed to counter-attack into and it should have gone in front but Di Maria wasted a clean-through chance.
Having saved his side on a few occasions, though, it was Casillas who was at fault as Dortmund retook the lead with 26 minutes to go as he could only parry a cross from the right as far as Schmelzer on the edge of the area and his volley into the ground made its way through a crowd of bodies and into the bottom corner.
Things could have been even worse for the Spanish champion 12 minutes later as Gotze had strong claims for a penalty waved away after appearing to have been pushed by Pepe but, despite the introduction of Gonzalo Higuain from the bench, Real rarely threatened an equaliser, with its best chance coming a minute from time when Michael Essien headed wide from a narrow angle.
High-flying Jets show their six appeal
Newcastle Jets have been crowned Champions of the Singapore Soccer Sixes after defeating Chonburi FC of Thailand 4-1 in Sunday’s grand final.
Beckham through the years
As David Beckham calls time on his glittering career, relive some of the moments that made him one of the most recognisable faces on the planet.
0 Comments
Monty Halls' Great Irish Escape (DVD)
Marine biologist, Monty, studies whales and dolphins off the spectacular west coast of Ireland.
East to West (DVD)
A fresh perspective on the birth of civilisation in the Near and Middle East and its dynamic influence on the West.
VideoNEW
Podcasts
Blogs




