i watched the uefa champions league semi-final 1st leg in allianz arena just a few moments ago, and when the game was over, the 1st thought that came into my mind was: that was a fucking movie.
and it was a really good one.
one that involved, heroes, villians, conflicts, surprises, suspense, and of course, a dramatic ending. everything you find in a top-class movie.
it started out well for FC Bayern München (fcb from here onwards).
fcb had a gameplan to frustrate the Real Madrid (rm)'s talented forwards and sat back stubbornly while rm controlled possession. but only when özil's through pass released karim benzema, who forced fcb keeper neuer into a good save, did the game sprang to life. as do all movies.
then came the theatrics. at the quarter-hour mark fcb winger ribery wriggled himself into the box but was halted by a challenge from sergio ramos. it was only a soft touch, but ribery fell so dramatically that he could've stood a chance in the oscars.
moments later however, fcb broke the deadlock. rm failed to clear a corner properly and allowed ribery (the actor) to slot in to ball through holes in masses of limbs. fcb took the lead! what a good start for the heroes! replays however shown that fcb midfield was offside and had a suspicion that he may have, in the slightest of possibilities, deflected the ball. the goal stood none the less and the home fans were cheering their heart out.
rm tried to mount a comeback, which created even more dramas. players from both sides jumped, dived and swam at both sides of the field in attempt to fool the officials, with much success. this however, created plenty of chance for fcb to counter-attack but supposedly in-form fcb striker mario goméz wasted so many chances that people might be persuaded to call him mario torres.
1st half ended, 1-0 to the german giants. fcb fans are singing in delight as they celebrate a well-earned lead. little did they know that it was not to last.
the heroes could've have wished for a worse start in the 2nd half. karim benzema gave a superb through-ball that sliced open fcb's defence and found the stylish chief villian cristiano ronaldo. famous, glamoured and flamboyant cr7 couldn't score, but forced a brave save that bounced of the palms of the brave manuel neuer. but the danger wasn't over. ronaldo picked up the rebound and his crossed found the unmarked mesut özil. özil, being half german and is the key player for the german national squad (labelled as the traitor in this film), made no mistakes and calmly slotted home with the goal barely a metre before him.
howard webb, clearly enjoying being in the spotlight, shown his true worth once again as he shown a yellow card to a rm player on a challenge. the challenge was rough and a card was rightly given to rm. but he gives it to the wrong player! rm midfield xabi alonso tackled gustavo unfairly but rm fullback fabio coentrao gets the card! foolish blunder by the obviously dumb referee.
more theatrics, as villians ronaldo and co., along with heroes robben and co. took turns to dive around the pitch, successfully lying to webb more often than not. goméz missed more chances (some glorious, some not as easy) as his day looks destined to end horribly. the frustrated striker was so frustrated that he hit the pitch angrily like a 5-year-old kid not getting his prefered christmas present.
gomez worked tirelessly but his efforts were in vain as he missed chances after chances when he should've put fcb far far ahead, until that fateful moment. time seemed to slow down as it finally arrived.
it was the final moments of the game. forever-dependable fcb captain phillip lahm jinxed passed coentrao and created acres of space for himself. he whipped a vicious low cross into the 6-yard box. gomez finally timed himself perfectly and stabbed rm in the heart as he buried lahm's cross in the back of the net and sealed the win. what moment of pure joy for the striker as he celebrated in front of his own loyal fans and was congratulated by his faithful teammates.
however, rm, as if on a sinking boat now, refused to die a silent death. they kicked and pushed and struggled like a dying beast and rm substitute marcelo was extremely lucky to stay on the pitch as he viciously kicked fcb's thomas müller's leg. the ball was rather far away but the ever-dumb webb only gave him a yellow card when it was a very clear red.
90+4: the final whistle goes and fcb has won the game! great theatrics from both sides and gomez turned from zero to hero as the home fans celebrate cheerfully. this game will set up a thriller second-leg at rm's home ground nad it should be another classical movie.
thank you for bearing with me as i sign off my very boring review.
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