Madrid win a fifth consecutive title
Monday, September 1, 2014
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Real Madrid CF 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
Madrid swept their German rivals aside to record a memorable fifth success in Glasgow in front of a record crowd for a European Cup final.
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Real Madrid CF further asserted their claim to be the best team in Europe, if not the world, by continuing their five-year monopoly of the European Champion Clubs' Cup.
They produced a display of such overwhelming imagination in Glasgow that the 127,000 crowd applauded for a full 15 minutes after the match had ended.
The main creative genius was Ferenc Puskás. Those who remembered his display in Hungary’s similarly crushing performances against England in 1953 will have recognised much in his performance as he scored four times, augmented by Alfredo di Stéfano’s hat-trick.
Eintracht Frankfurt in fact forced Rogelio Domínguez to tip the ball onto the frame of the goal in the opening seconds, following an Erich Meier cross, and led on 18 minutes, Richard Kress volleying in Erwin Stein's centre.
Indeed, the pretenders to Madrid's throne began with determination, not afraid of their illustrious opposition.
But Madrid were soon to stir. After being behind for nine minutes, they levelled when Di Stéfano turned in Canário's cross, keeping up his record of scoring in every European Champion Clubs' Cup final to date.
Just three minutes later, Di Stéfano struck again, Egon Loy having only parried a Canário shot. In the final moments of the first half, any doubts about the result were erased as Puskás somehow lashed in from a tight angle.
Puskás again scored 11 minutes into the second period from a penalty, and on the hour completed his treble with a header after José Santamaría’s clearance was taken upfield by Francisco Gento, whose cross was gleefully converted.
It was four for Puskás on 71 minutes when he turned and shot into the top corner, and although Stein struck seconds later, Di Stéfano simply headed down to the other end to make it 7-2. Stein scored again not long afterwards, but it was the barest of consolations.
Di Stéfano, Gento and José María Zárraga had now been part of five Madrid triumphs, contributing to a team total of 31 goals in their seven-match campaign this time around.