Dramatic Ending to a Manchester City- Real Madrid Clash; Real Madrid Advances to the Final

By: Joanah Jepsen

Last Wednesday, Manchester City played Real Madrid in the Semi-Finals of the UEFA Champions League. The game separated two very young, talented teams and decided who was going to play in the finals against Liverpool, who had already qualified. It was also full of twists and turns that had viewers on the edge of their seats.

At halftime, the game was still tied, 0-0. But in the 73rd minute, Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez scored a beautiful one-touch shot that flew into the upper nineties. This put City up 2 in aggregate. Manchester City was comfortable because they kept possession and created chances. Real Madrid couldn't get out of their half. In the 87th minute, City midfielder Jack Grealish had back-to-back chances that did not go in, one of which was cleared off the line by Madrid defender Ferland Mendy and sent City coach Pep Guardiola in disbelief. If they were goals, either one of these chances probably would have sent City to the finals.

Real Madrid, then with all of the momentum, kept most of the possession for the extra time. In the 93rd minute, City defender Rúben Dias fouled Karim Benzema in the box. The ref called the penalty with barely any hesitation. Benzema is the one who stepped up to take it and swiftly buried it into the back of the net. The game ended in a 3-1 Real Madrid victory, which was enough to send them to the final with an aggregate score of 6-5.