Wednesday November 27, 2024

Liverpool eliminate Bayern in UEFA Champions League

Published : 14 Mar 2019, 04:12

DF-Xinhua Report

Liverpool's Sadio Mane (R) breaks through the defense of Bayern Munich's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the UEFA Champions League 1/8 finals second leg match between Bayern Munich of Germany and Liverpool of England in Munich, Germany, on March 13, 2019. Photo Xinhua/Philippe Ruiz.

Sadio Mane's brace secured Liverpool a 3-1 away win over Bayern Munich in the second leg of Champions League's last 16 on Wednesday.

The "Bavarians" grabbed the reins on home soil from the kickoff and came to their first chances with only nine minutes played when Thiago Alcantara pulled over the target from promising position.

Bayer controlled possession of the ball but lacked in ideas to overcome Liverpool's well-positioned defense.

The visitors meanwhile scored against the run of the game with 25 minutes played as Sadio Mane controlled a long ball to beat onrushing Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for the opener.

The hosts responded well and restored parity after Joel Matip deflected Serge Gnabry's cross into the wrong goal to make it 1-1 on the scoreboards in the 39th minute.

After the restart, both sides exchanged attacks as Mohamed Salah tested Manuel Neuer from 17 meters in the 50th minute before Robert Lewandowski missed the target from close range ten minutes later.

Liverpool remained clinical and grabbed the lead through Virgil van Dijk, who nodded home James Milner's corner kick with 69 minutes into the game.

The 2-1 took the reins out of Bayern's sails whereas Liverpool's Mohamed Salah squandered the chance to extend the lead in the 75th minute.

Nevertheless, the visitors were not done with the scoring as Sadio Mane sealed his brace, and the game, after heading home Salah's build-up work with six minutes to the final whistle.

With the result, the German record champions missed the quarterfinals for first time in eights years.

"The second half was very mature. In the first half we should have played more football. As soon as we played football we destroyed the organization of Bayern. The win is absolutely deserved," Liverpool's head coach Jurgen Klopp said.

"Liverpool take a deserved win home. We know we needed to score a goal on home soil to win but Liverpool staged a better performance and showed more will to win here," Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said.