Calamity Karius, brilliant Bale
With his back to goal but eyes on the incoming cross, Gareth Bale connected with the ball while leaping in the air and sent a scissor-kick arcing into the top of the net.
Fusing athleticism and technique, it was a mesmerising sight to behold in the Champions League final.
Rarely has there been a finer goal in a European final, sealing a third successive title for Real Madrid in a 3-1 victory over Liverpool yesterday. Yet with blunders, injuries and intrigue unfolding throughout the night in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium, the wonder-goal just enriched this engrossing climax to the European club season and set the tone for weeks of uncertainty.
A weeping Mohamed Salah was forced off in the first half with a shoulder injury that foiled Liverpool’s quest for a first continental success in 13 years and left the World Cup hopes of the ‘‘Egyptian King’’ in jeopardy.
Tears also streamed down Loris Karius’ face after the Liverpool goalkeeper’s mistakes gifted two goals on the biggest match of his career. It might also be his last for Liverpool.
‘‘I don’t feel anything right now. Today I lost my team the game and I feel sorry for everyone,’’ Karius said.
‘‘I’m sorry for everyone – from the team, from the whole club – that the mistakes cost dearly. If I could go back in time, I would. I feel sorry for my team. I know I let them down today.
‘‘These goals cost us the title, basically,’’ he added.
‘‘It’s very hard right now but that’s the life of a goalkeeper. You have to get your head up again.’’
Bale only came on in the second half as a substitute. The impact was explosive, scoring the bicycle kick goal in the 64th minute.
While Cristiano Ronaldo became the first five-time winner in the post1993 Champions League era, this was a comparatively muted performance in a final in which Madrid collected a record 13th title.
In the tunnel before kickoff there was a furtive glance across to Salah, who has also scored 44 goals this season. But the showdown between the world player of the year and a contender for his throne never materialised. Salah’s final was over after 30 minutes.
Lying on his back, hands covering his face, Salah rose only to leave the field. An incredible debut season at Liverpool came to a crying end.
‘‘Of course it was a little shock to the team,’’ Klopp said.
There were bigger shocks to come, from Liverpool’s goalkeeping blunders.
After collecting a shot six minutes into the second half, Karius rolled the ball out too casually, neglecting the presence of Karim Benzema who stuck out his right foot and dispatched the ball into an empty net.
The immediate impact of Karius’ blunder was offset by Sadio Mane’s equaliser in the 55th. Dejan Lovren rose above Sergio Ramos and headed into the path of Mane, who prodded the ball over the line.
Within three minutes of replacing Isco, Bale made the perfect entrance by scoring one of the finest goals in a European final.
After that wonder goal, Bale then left Karius despairing after a second gaffe. The German inexplicably allowed Bale’s shot to squirm through his hands into the net in the 83rd, sealing Liverpool’s fate.
Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius ‘‘I’m sorry for everyone – from the team, from the whole club – that the mistakes cost dearly. If I could go back in time, I would. I feel sorry for my team. ’’