Real Madrid vs Sheriff Tiraspol – Football Match Report – September 28, 2021

Sheriff Tiraspol’s Moldovan club claimed a remarkable 2-1 Champions League victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday, taking a surprise victory thanks to a sensational strike in the 89th minute from Sebastien Thill.

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The newcomers in the Sheriff competition beat the 13-time European champions in the 25th minute with a header from Uzbek midfielder Jasurbek Yakhshiboev, who narrowly missed the opportunity to double the visitors’ lead later in the first half. time.

Sheriff closed with a +2700 odds at Caesars Sportsbook, making him the biggest underdog to win in the last three Champions League seasons. The previous biggest upset was Shakhtar Donetsk who beat Madrid in the group stage last year at +1300 odds.

“We thought we could win. I spoke to my teammates as captain, motivating them, saying ‘why not dream?’ It’s football, ”said Tiraspol Sheriff’s captain Frank Castaneda. “Real Madrid are historic, but on the pitch it’s 11v11. We aimed for the win and got it.”

Goalkeeper Georgios Athanasiadis, 28, who plays for the loan sheriff of AEK Athens, was named UEFA’s man of the match for a performance that saw him make ten saves.

“I am really happy,” he said. “It is very difficult to play against these teams, the best in the world. I am moved, if I keep talking for a long time, I will end up crying.”

Real dominated the game in both halves but needed a penalty to equalize. Karim Benzema buried his kick in the top corner in the 65th minute after Vinicius Jr was shot and given a penalty following a VAR exam, being denied a kick after a previous review a few moments earlier.

Real substitute Luka Jovic missed out on a big winning chance for the hosts, but the sheriff quickly reached the other end and, after a throw-in, the ball fell on Luxembourg midfielder Thill, who took the shot. a fatal shot in the far upper corner.

“It’s the type of game where, when you have full control, it’s the little details that decide it,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “It cost us the game. It can be a good lesson for the future, a game like this, details are costing you. A touch, a cross, a corner, an unnecessary foul … They cost you. We lost and the team didn’t deserve it, honestly, for what we did. “

Sheriff, from the unrecognized breakaway state of Transnistria, leads Champions League Group D with six points in two games while Madrid are second with three.

Sheriff went through four qualifying rounds to become the first Moldovan team to play in the group stage of the European elite club competition and surprised a very experienced Champions League side at Shakhtar Donetsk to win their match. opening 2-0.

They faced an undefeated Real side and were outplayed for most of the game, but got the best result in their 24-year history, making the most of their few chances and building on a few first saves. shot of Athanasiadis.

Real got off to a good start and Vinicius and Benzema each came close to giving them the advantage, Athanasiadis making the first of many saves to tip a scathing shot from Benzema over the bar.

But Ancelotti’s side were outdone on the block when Cristiano knocked down the left wing and centered on Yakhshiboev, who did not score, who headed for the net.

Real continued to threaten with Benzema and Vinicius each shooting right off the target before half-time, although Yakhshiboev could have scored again on the other end following a glaring error from hosts’ keeper Thibaut Courtois.

The Spaniards looked set to win the game after Benzema equalized on the spot, but Sheriff had the ball in the net again through substitute Bruno, although the goal was ruled out for offside.

Modric was then foiled by Athanasiadis, who saved a shot from the Croatian in the face, before Brazilian striker Rodrygo narrowly shot over the bar.

A true winner seemed inevitable, but instead fell on the other end when Thill tried his luck from the edge of the box, scoring the most important goal in his club’s brief history.

“The sheriff defended well, very tight at the back,” said Ancelotti. “They forced us out. But we combined well, we fell behind, a lot of crosses, what we didn’t do well were the little things, we could have been more focused.”