Thousands showed up early at Yankee Stadium before yesterday’s friendly between Manchester City and Chelsea to watch the Champions League final on the big screen — and what a show they got.
Arjen Robben scored in the 89th minute to give Bayern Munich a 2-1 win over German rival Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final in London, ending four years of frustration for his team in Europe’s biggest tournament.
Robben ran onto Franck Ribery’s backheeled flick in the penalty area and put the ball past goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller to send Bayern to its first Champions League victory since 2001 and fifth overall. Bayern had lost two of the last three finals, including a penalty-kicks defeat to Chelsea last year in Munich.
“This means a lot. I still have not grasped it,” Robben said. “There are so many emotions.”
In a game that featured a slew of chances for both teams, Mario Mandzukic put Bayern ahead in the 60th minute at Wembley Stadium, and Ilkay Gundogan evened the score on a penalty kick eight minutes later after defender Dante fouled Marco Reus in the area.
Robben missed two great chances in the first half, then finally came through for Bayern to set off wild celebrations in the red-and-white end of Wembley Stadium. Robben’s overtime penalty kick was saved in last year’s final, causing some Bayern fans to turn against him. A year later, after the final whistle sounded, he strode with his arms raised toward the section of jubilant Bayern fans.
“It was very even. They had chances. We had chances,” Robben said. “Then the last minute, I was quicker to the ball. I missed two chances before that, but I stayed calm.”
Robben set up the first goal for Bayern, taking a pass from Ribery and drawing Weidenfeller out before squaring for Mandzukic, who could hardly miss from a few yards out.
But the lead didn’t last long. Dante clumsily clattered into Reus in the penalty area, and Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli pointed to the spot. Gundogan sent goalkeeper Manuel Neuer the wrong way before slotting his kick into the right side of the net.
Dortmund defender Neven Subotic became the first American to play in a Champions League final and made an outstanding sliding clearance on Thomas Mueller’s shot to prevent a goal in the 72nd. The 24-year-old grew up in Salt Lake City and Bradenton, Fla., and played for the U.S. under-17 and under-20 teams before switching to the senior national team of Serbia, where he was born.
Bayern improved to 3-0-2 against Dortmund this season and Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes won his second Champions League trophy following a 1998 win with Real Madrid. Bayern announced in January that he will be replaced after the season by former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.