Bayern Munich has defeated Real Madrid in a penalty shootout to punch it's ticket to the Champions League Final. Bayern will join Chelsea, who shockingly dispatched Barcelona on Tuesday.
Although Real Madrid seized control early on Wednesday at the Bernabeau when Ronaldo netted two goals in quick succession during the first half, Arjen Robben tallied a crucial away goal to pull Munich level. At the conclusion of regulation play, the sides remained even on aggregate, 3-3. Neither team could find the winner during two 15-minute extra sessions.
In a matchup featuring a constellation of international stars, the two most important players suddenly became goalkeepers Iker Casillas and Manuel Neuer. With Spanish national Casillas waiting in the net for the home side, Bayern defender David Alaba stepped to the spot to open the proceedings.
(WATCH ENTIRE SHOOTOUT BELOW)
Bayern Munich Shot No. 1:Alaba scores. The man who surrendered the first penalty of the game, beats Casillas low left.
Real Madrid Shot No. 1:Ronaldo stopped! CR7 fires low and toward the post but Neuer dives to his left and blocks it.
Bayern Munich Shot No. 2:Gomez scores. After letting his shots go wanting all night, he finds the back of the net.
Real Madrid Shot No. 2:Kaka stopped! The Brazilian, who is a big hit on Twitter, is denied by Neuer at the same spot as Ronaldo.
Bayern Munich Shot No. 3:Kross stopped! Casillas handles this lackluster effort with a dive to his left.
Real Madrid Shot No. 3:Alonso scores. The veteran measures his approach, perhaps messing with Neuer's timing, and puts it home.
Bayern Munich Shot No. 4:Lahm stopped! A meek effort is easily handled by Iker, who hardly has to move.
Real Madrid Shot No. 4:Ramos misses! With a chance to pull his team even, the defender sails it way over. Horrible miss!
Bayern Munich Shot No. 5:Schweinsteiger scores to seal the win.
Denying both Ronaldo and Kaka, Neuer is surely the hero of the penalty shootout. The Bayern players celebrate on the field at the Bernabeau, which hasn't fallen quite as silent as the Camp Nou about 24 hours earlier. Of course, the only noise is a joyous din coming from the traveling fans and the Bayern players.
The Germans have a word for the feeling that many of those Barcelona fans likely experienced when Schweinsteiger's shot bulged the back of the net: Schadenfreude.
With this razor's edge result, Munich becomes the first team to reach a Champions League final that is being contested on its own soil. Perhaps even more surprising, there will not be a representative from La Liga joining them on May 19.