There was a new sheriff in Madrid, and he comes from Tiraspol.
Sheriff Tiraspol’s Moldovan team entered the historic Estadio Santiago Bernabéu for their first Champions League away match and stunned Real Madrid in an upheaval that rocked the world of football.
The sheriff’s rise in all four qualifying rounds to become the first Moldovan team to qualify for the group stage stands in stark contrast to Real Madrid’s 13 Champions League titles, but it was the minnow who came with the three points in the Spanish capital and at the top of the group standings which also sees Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk after two days.
Jasurbek Yakhshiboev opened the scoring in the 25th minute to give the Moldovan club the first advantage as he ran away in celebration, holding his head in disbelief at the result.
Running down the right wing without scoring during a counterattack, the 24-year-old Uzbek international connected with a cross from left-back from Sheriff Cristiano. Yakhshiboev, on loan from the Poles of Legia Warsaw, hit back from head to goal to beat Thibaut Courtois for the lead goal.
But Real Madrid pulled one back when Vinicius’ footwork in the box proved too much for Sheriff as the Brazilian equalized a penalty in the 65th minute. Karim Benzema then stepped onto the pitch and converted to fourth all-time on the Champions League scorer list with his 72nd career goal in the competition.
Benzema also became the first player in competition history to score in 17 consecutive Champions League seasons.
The sheriff saved the drama for the end. At 89 ‘the defense of Real goes out on a lineout in his third defensive. The ball eventually bounced off the edge of the 18-yard area, where Sébastien Thill was waiting for the strike of his life.
Completely unmarked, the Luxembourg midfielder launched a volley for the first time into the corner in what is sure to be a contender for the goal of the year, not to mention the all-time highlight of the Champions League.
Sheriff have won the Moldovan title in 19 of the last 21 seasons, but became the first Moldovan side to qualify for the Champions League when they defeated Dinamo Zagreb in a round-trip play-off last month.
The club won their first Champions League group stage match against Shakhtar Donetsk on 15 September and are now alone in first place in Group D with six points.
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