Champions League Final: Bayern triumph after last-gasp Robben goal

Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben slotted in an 89th minute winner as they defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at Wembley stadium on Saturday to be crowned European champions for the fifth time.

Dutchman Robben raced into the area and beat goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller in a stunning finale to the first all-German Champions League final.

Bayern, on the backfoot for much of the first half, struck on the hour with Robben cutting the ball back for Mario Mandzukic to poke home from close range.

The German champions' joy was short-lived though as Dortmund levelled eight minutes later with Ilkay Guendogan's well-struck penalty awarded for a clumsy Dante challenge on Marco Reus.

Dortmund looked to be holding on for extra time before Robben broke free to score the winner and send the Bayern fans into raptures.

Robben scored the winner with 90 seconds left on the close to break the hearts of Dortmund to crown Bayern Munich as the champions of Europe.

The Dutchman also provided the assist for Bayern's opening goal slotted home by Mandzukic before Gundogan equalised for Dortmund with a spot kick after a goalless first half.

This is Bayern's fifth European Cup and their first since 2001 and kept alive their hopes of a treble as they have already won the German league title and face VfB Stuttgart in the Cup final in Berlin next Saturday..

Bayern savoured victory after the disappointment of last season and in 2010 when they lost both finals.

"It's a final, we were at the same level, we both had our chances. I was able to push the ball through at the end," man of the match Robben said speaking to ZDF German TV.

"It means a lot to me. It's still hard to fathom. I'll be able to put it in words later. There are so many emotions right now, it's incredible.

"So many people told me I'd score a goal tonight. the first few chances I missed. I got another chance at the end and took advantage of it."

Bayern join Liverpool on five European Cups and become the joint-third most successful club in competition's history behind Real Madrid and AC Milan.

The match, played at a ferocious pace, was full of superb attacking football and seemed destined for extra time until Robben burst through a gap in the defence and rounded outstanding Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller to score.

Dortmund began at blistering pace which they maintained for almost 30 minutes with Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski pulverising the Bayern defence.

Lewandowski had the first of their seven first-half scoring chances, powering in a 30-metre shot which goalkeeper Manuel Neuer turned over the bar for a corner.

Neuer also made a superb stop when he stuck out his left leg to prevent Jakub Blaszczykowski scoring from close range after he was set up by Lewandowski.

Bayern were virtually over-run at the start but battled back to create five good scoring chances of their own - three falling to Robben who could well have netted a hat-trick by halftime.

A poor touch scuppered the first when he had only Weidenfeller to beat, and the goalkeeper stopped him again by taking a shot straight in the face when Robben had the goal gaping just before the break.

Weidenfeller also stopped a powerful goalbound header from Mandzukic after 26 minutes, tipping his powerful effort on to the bar and over.

Both teams maintained the high tempo until the halftime break and the only surprise was that neither made the breakthrough after 45 breathtaking minutes of superb football.

The game continued to be end-to-end for most of the second half, but Bayern gradually took control as Dortmund faded.

The nature of the first two goals also reflected the see-saw game with Dortmund equalising just eight minutes after Bayern scored.

Robben was at the heart of that opening goal, providing the final cross for Mandzukic to sweep home with his left foot from close range but the lead only lasted eight minutes before Dante's rash challenge on Reus gave Dortmund the penalty from which Guendogan scored.

In the end, the balance swung Bayern's way with Robben's stunning solo goal making Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes only the fourth man to win the European Cup with two clubs after leading Real Madrid to victory in 1998.

"We're proud but also disappointed," Dortmund defender Mats Hummels said.

"Especially when you lose in the 89th minute on an almost accidental goal like that. It's enormously bitter. But at the end it looked like we were getting a little bit tired and Bayern took advantage of that."

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said: "We didn't get into the game in the first half so I corrected a few things at the interval.

"There was pressure on both teams but we certainly felt the burden of being favourites in the first 20 minutes."

Dortmund's Klopp said: "First of all congratulations to Bayern. You have to respect the result.

"We were right in it, but at the end everything came together for Bayern and they finished off the game."

Dortmund stoppper Weidenfeller said: "We’re proud to have given Bayern a real game tonight. We played well but it wasn't meant to be."

FULL TIME

Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Dortmund 1

Mandzukic 60     Gundogan 68 (pen)

Robben 89

90" Three minutes off added time.

GOAL! 89" Robben scores what could be the match winner.

Ribery back-heel the ball forward and Robben latches onto the loose ball to burst into the box past dangling Dortmund legs to scuff his finish past Weidenfeller.

87" Weidenfeller saves well again from Schweinsteiger.

85" Gundogan earns a free-kick after being pulled down by Robben.

83" Keeper flaps but Schweinsteiger, who fires over.

82" Mandzukic heads over but it is a Bayern corner.

76" Weidenfeller with another top save from Alaba.

75" Muller passes too wide for Mandzukic and appeals in vain for a penalty after being impeded by Subotic.

73" YELLOW for Ribery involved in a scuffle with some Dortmund defenders after claiming for a penalty.

72" Subotic clears off line with Robben poised to tap in near the left post after Mueller had rounded keeper.

GOAL! 68" Gundogan scores from the spot-kick.

67" Penalty awarded after Reus kneed in chest by Dante.

64" Ribery is taken out by Hummels at a bouncing ball  but there is no foul.

62" Bayern now have their tails up with Mandzukic scuffing another attempt at goal.

GOAL! 60" Mandzukic jabs home after some good passing from Bayern.

Robben was found in space in the box by Ribery, he looked to have run it out of play but managed to cut back for the Croatian to score with an easy finish.

59" Mandzukic headed straight at the keeper.

56" Brilliant defending from Hummels, who stands up Robben when one-on-one in the box.

55" Getting a bit heated now, a few niggly fouls. Attendance 86,298.

54" Mandzukic is a little late on Schmelzer who rolls on the ground but is straight back on his feet when he realises the referee isn't buying that is was a bad foul.

51" Hummels strides out of defence for Dortmund who are trying to regain the ascendancy.49" A quiet and scrappy start to the second half.

48" Free kick for Dortmund after Ribery brings down Reus at least 40 yards from goal. Neuer gathers the shot from Reus easily.

47" Grosskreutz and Lahm collide in an aerial collision.

46" Dortmund get the second half under way as both sides make no changes.

HALF-TIME

45" Dortmund had the edge early on while Robben missed a raft of chances for Bayern.

44" Neuer and Weidenfeller have made several fine saves.

43" Reus carries the ball forward but shoots wide.

42" Robben squanders another chance kicking with his left straight to Weidenfeller's face.

40" Lewandowski has got the better of Boateng who is hobbling.

39" Bayern are getting a firm foothold on the game.

36" Robben shot blocked being closed down by Subotic, corner for Bayern and Mueller heads just wide.

35" Neuer again foils Lewandowksi who got too close to the keeper to flick it over.

32" Bayern are pushing forward pushing Dortmund deep.

30" Robben finds himself free but is denied by the keeper as Bayern miss a great opportunity.

29" YELLOW Dante is booked for blocking off Reus after the Dortmund man had skipped past him.

28" Piszczek tumbles in the box but Dortmund appeals for a penalty are turned down.

27" From the resulting corner, Martinez heads onto the roof of the net.

26" Mandzukic clips the bar with a header as Bayern get their first real chance.

23" Ribery gets away with what appears to be an elbow on Lewandowski.

22" Dortmund are really dominating possession but not taking their chances.

21" Bender with an effort now again saved by Neuer.

20" Bayern are forced to go long being unable to find a passing route through midfield.

18" Dortmund storm up field again and Reus tests Neuer with a long range effort from a set piece.

17" Ribery down injured but looks alright.

16" Neuer makes two very good saves inside the opening 15 minutes.

15" Another great save Neuer from Jakub Blaszczykowski.

14" Neuer tips over a snap effort from 25 years by Lewandowksi as Dortmund continue to dominate early on.

11" Robben and Ribery attempt to combine inside the Dortmund box but are foiled.

10" Bayern's first meaningful attack breaks down and Dortmund charge up the other end only for Jakub Blaszczykowski to strike wide.

6" BVB having the better of the exchanges so far.

5" Another Dortmund corner but Neuer claims it.

4" Reus takes the corner and is headed clear at the near post by Lahm.

3" Lewandowski makes the first half effort of the game, which is deflected and Dortmund get a corner.

2" Free-kick to Bayern inside their own half after Bender clatters Martinez from behind.

1" Bayern pass the ball around before Boateng launches an attack on the right.

KICK-OFF Bayern kick off and keep possession making the first foray.

Here come the teams. Weidenfeller and Lahm lead out Dortmund and Bayern, respectively.

Medieval archers firing arrows at each other, one team in yellow the rest in red.

It's the horse from the play Warhorse.

Opening ceremony taking place.

Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp left captain Sebastian Kehl out of their Champions League final against Bayern Munich at Wembley stadium on Saturday, bringing in Sven Bender as the second holding midfielder next to Ilkay Guendogan.

Bender, who is a more attacking player than Kehl, was joined in the Dortmund starting lineup by Kevin Grosskreutz on the left wing due to the absence of Mario Goetze through injury.

That change means Marco Reus switches to the middle behind forward Robert Lewandowski.

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes opted to start in central defence with Jerome Boateng, who has been solid when called into action this season, instead of Belgian Daniel van Buyten in a full-strength squad for the final.

Thomas Mueller will play in the centre of midfield with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery on the wings leaving Mario Mandzukic as the lone striker.

A bit of concern for Bayern fans as Schweinsteiger took a bit of a knock from Mandzukic in a warm-up game.

Wembley is ready to reverberate to the roar of German voices as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund clash in the first all-Bundesliga final in Champions League history.

It is a glorious evening in London with bright sunshine.

The last duel on neutral ground between Bayern and Dortmund was the 2012 German Cup final where Dortmund won 5-2.

Dortmund are undefeated against Bayern in their last six league games (four wins, two draws).

However, Munich are undefeated in four competitive games this season (two wins in the Super Cup and German Cup and two draws in the Bundesliga).

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Borussia Dortmund 4-2-3-1

Bayern Munich 4-2-3-1

STARTING LINE-UP

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gündogan, Bender; Błaszczykowski, Reus, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski.

Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Müller, Ribéry; Mandzukić.

STAT ATTACK

Bayern have kept a clean sheet in their last 4 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

Bayern have won 6 of their last 7 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).    

Bayern have scored at least 2 goals in 6 of their last 7 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).    

Borussia Dortmund have seen under 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches against Bayern in all competitions.    

Borussia Dortmund are undefeated in 9 of their last 10 home matches against Bayern in all competitions.

MATCH FACTS

Saturday's final will be the 58th since the competition began in the 1955-56 season, with Real Madrid winning the first five finals.

Bayern Munich are third in the all-time list of finalists having appeared in nine previous finals, winning four times, in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 2001, and losing five times, in 1982, 1987, 1999, 2010 and last season, when they lost to Chelsea on penalties in Munich.

Borussia Dortmund are appearing in their second Champions League final after winning on their only other appearance in 1997, when they defeated Juventus 3-1 in Munich.

Since the Champions League format was introduced in 1992-93, no side has won a greater percentage of their games to lift the trophy than Borussia Dortmund in 1997.

They won nine of the 11 matches they played - 81.8 per cent. In contrast, when Manchester United won the competition in 1999 their winning percentage was a record low, 45.5 per cent.

The following season, as defending champions, Borussia beat Bayern 1-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.

This will be the fourth time two clubs from the same country have played each other in the final following Real Madrid v Valenica in 2000, AC Milan v Juventus in 2003 and Manchester United v Chelsea in 2008. Those matches ended in victories for Real, Milan and United, with Milan and United winning on penalties.

Bayern would become the first club to lift the European Cup twice on penalties if they were to succeed in a shootout. They beat Valencia 5-4 on penalties in 2001 after a 1-1 draw. They would also become the first club to feature in three shootouts in the final if the match ends in a draw, following last season's loss.

Since Bayern won promotion to the Bundesliga in 1965, the two clubs have met 95 times in all senior comptitions, with Bayern winning 41 times, Borussia 25 with 29 matches drawn.

They have met four times this season, with Bayern beating Borussia 2-1 in the season-opening German Super Cup in August and also gaining revenge for their 5-2 defeat in last season's German Cup final with a 1-0 win in the German Cup in February. Their two league matches finished 1-1.

Teams:

Borussia Dortmund: 1-Roman Weidenfeller; 26-Lukasz Piszczek, 4-Neven Subotic, 15-Mats Hummels, 29-Marcel Schmelzer; 8-Ilkay Guendogan, 6-Sven Bender, 16-Jakub Blaszczykowski, 19-Kevin Grosskreutz, 11-Marco Reus; 9-Robert Lewandowski

Bayern Munich: 1-Manuel Neuer; 21-Philipp Lahm, 17-Jerome Boateng, 4-Dante, 27-David Alaba; 31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 8-Javi Martinez; 10-Arjen Robben, 25-Thomas Mueller, 7-Franck Ribery; 9-Mario Mandzukic

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.