Sheriff players on Real Madrid Champions League are upset.
Frank Castaneda, captain of Sheriff Tiraspol,
sent a simple message to his players before their Champions League encounter against Real Madrid: “Why not dream?”
The Moldovan champions, the first team in the country’s history to reach the Winners League group stage, stunned the 13-time tournament champions 2-1 at the Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on Tuesday.
After 25 minutes,
the visitors took the lead when striker Jasurbek Yakhshiboev scored a free header past Thibaut Courtois.
After halftime, Karim Benzema equalized from the penalty spot,
before midfielder Sebastien Thill scored the game-winner in the 89th minute.
“We felt we had a chance to win.
As captain, I encouraged my comrades by asking, “Why not dream?” This is football,
after all, “Castaneda, a Colombian striker, said. “Real Madrid is a legendary club,
but on the field, it’s 11 against. 11. We went for the victory and were successful.”
The sheriff now leads Group D with six points after winning both of their matches thus far, while Real Madrid is in second place.
“Thill, who became the first player from Luxembourg to score in the Champions League, remarked, “We played a very nice game.” “The team played with such bravery, and fortunately for me, I was able to score a bit of a stunner.”
Georgios Athanasiadis, a 28-year-old goalkeeper on loan from AEK Athens, was awarded UEFA’s Man of the Match after a performance in which he made 10 saves.
“I’m overjoyed,” he remarked. “It’s very tough to compete against the greatest teams in the world. I’m emotional, and if I go on much longer, I’ll start weeping.”
Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid, blamed the defeat on “little technicalities.”
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In his post-match press conference, Ancelotti stated, “More than concerned, we’re unhappy.” “The squad played with a high level of dedication and energy.
I believe the game was determined by little things, such as a cross in the first half and a throw-in in the second. They don’t always cost you anything, but if you’re unlucky, they will.”
Ancelotti continued: “There were many chances available to us. We might have been more accurate in the last 30 meters, but given the way we played, it’s difficult to justify this loss… It’s a useful lesson to remember in the future. You paid the price for a throw-in, a cross, a corner, and a needless foul. We didn’t deserve to lose, and we didn’t deserve to lose.”
Madrid had a total of 31 shots in the game, with Benzema, Vinicius Junior, Eden Hazard, Rodrygo, and Luka Jovic all coming close to hitting the goal.
Real midfielder Casemiro stated, “We had so many shots, their goalie made so many saves, and I believe you have to applaud them for scoring two goals.” “We were in command of the game, creating many opportunities, and then they scored a fantastic goal.”
The sheriff, on the other hand, had three shots on target but was only able to convert two of them.
“I used to fantasize of winning at the Bernabeu,” said Gustavo Dulanto, a Peruvian defender for the Sheriff’s office. “I’ve always admired Real, the team with the most Champions League titles, and to defeat them at home is a fantastic accomplishment.”
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