A Madrid derby final with a bit of everything: quality
goals from both sides, controversy from Cristiano
Ronaldo's late red, and in the end, sweet redemption for Simeone's men
Miranda's header in extra time won the Copa del Rey for AtleticoAtletico Madrid won their 10th
Copa del Rey as goals from Diego
Costa and Miranda saw them
beat Real Madrid 2-1 in extra-
time as both Jose Mourinho and
Cristiano Ronaldo were sent-off. Real had been unbeaten in the
previous 25 meetings between
the two rivals dating back 14
years and Mourinho's men got
off to the perfect start when
Cristiano Ronaldo headed in Luka Modric's corner. However, Diego Costa levelled for
Atletico 10 minutes before
halftime and Los Rojiblancos then
rode their luck as Mesut Ozil,
Karim Benzema and Ronaldo all
hit the post for Real. Mourinho was sent from the
touchline 13 minutes from normal
time for taking his protestations
towards the officials too far
before Miranda headed Atletico
in front eight minutes into extra time. And there was even more drama
to come as Ronaldo was then
shown a straight red card for
reacting angrily to a late
challenge from Gabi with six
minutes of extra time remaining. "We had two clear chances on
goal, we hit the post three times
– this is why I think it is unfair,"
said Mourinho. Mourinho, who could well have
sat on the Real bench for the
last time as he is now likely to
receive a four-game touchline
ban, continued to controversially
freeze out Pepe after his outspoken comments against the
coach. Raul Albiol was preferred
alongside Sergio Ramos in central
defence. However, buoyed by the
confidence that they had won all
eight derbies during Mourinho's
reign, Real took just 13 minutes
to make the breakthrough as
Ronaldo was given far too much room by Diego Godin and Radamel
Falcao to register his 55th goal
of the season with a precise
header. Gabi responded for Atletico with
their first shot on goal moments
later that flew over the bar, but
despite enjoying a decent spell
of possession, Diego Simeone's
men were finding it difficult to create a clear-cut opening. However, when it did arrive on
35 minutes they took full
advantage as Falcao called
Mourinho's decision to field Albiol
into question as he turned the
Spanish international on halfway and then released Costa to fire
in his eighth goal in the
competition with a low drive past
Diego Lopez. The equaliser sparked Real into
life in the final throws of the
opening half as Modric drilled a
low shot just wide from the edge
of the area before Ozil struck
the inside of the post with a half-volley from similar range. It was Atletico though who had
the clearer openings in a lively
start to the second period as
Filipe Luis fluffed a decent
opening when he dribbled a shot
into Lopez's arms and the full- back had another effort on goal
moments later when he fired
Gabi's cross just wide of the
target. Real ought to have been back in
front on the hour mark as
Ronaldo burst down the left and
his cut back was fired against
the post by Karim Benzema
before Juanfran somehow blocked Ozil's follow-up effort on
the line. Real then struck the post for
the third time as Ronaldo
surprised the Atletico wall with a
free-kick struck along the
ground that came back off the
upright. Mourinho was then sent from
the touchline for protesting
after a number of marginal
decisions went against his side. Mourinho's message did still
reach the Real bench before
extra time kicked off as he made
a triple substitution with Gonzalo
Higuain, Angel Di Maria and Alvaro
Arbeloa introduced. However, it was Atletico who had
the first great chance in extra
time as Costa was released clean
through on goal but this time
placed his effort too close to
Lopez who made a comfortable save. From the resulting corner
though they did take their
chance as Koke's second attempt
at a cross from the right was
flicked in at the near post by
Miranda. Falcao nearly settled matter
minutes later when a free-kick
that just landed on the roof of
the net, but Atleti were grateful
to two incredible saves from
Courtois to see them over the line. Atletico's task in the final
minutes was made far easier
when Ronaldo kicked out at Gabi
and saw a straight red card. Gabi was then also shown a
second yellow as both sides
finished with 10 men, but Simeone's team held on to seal
their third trophy in little over a
year.
Topic: Real Madrid 1-2 AtleticoMadrid (aet): Rojiblancosride luck to end derbydrought in Copa cracker (Read 1060 times)
