28th September, 2021
Moldovian team FC Sheriff stunned Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Champions League on Tuesday, handing the Spanish giants an embarrassing 2-1 defeat.
The Moldovians, who were playing in the Champions League for the first time will go into the records as the first team from their country to beat Madrid.
They now lead Group D, with six points after beating Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 in their first game.
The Moldovians showed they had a mission when striker Djasur Yakhshibaev opened scoring in the 25th minute.
The scoreline remained the same at end of first half despite Madrid dominating possession for most of the time.
Sheriff’s keeper Georgios Athanasiadis blocked many shots by the Madrid team.
Madrid restored some order when Karim Benzema equalised in the 65th minute via a penalty.
But in the dying minutes of the game, Sheriff’s midfielder Sebastien . Thill inflicted a great wound on Madrid’s pride when he found the winner with a thunderbolt of a shot.
He was assisted by Adama Traore.
It was a game that Madrid ought not to lose statistically.
The Spanish team had a total of 19 goal attempts, 11 of them on target.
They had 11 blocked shots. 13 corner kicks and 67 percent possession.
In contrast, FC Sheriff had four shots at goal, three on target, zero corner kick and 33 percent possession.
FC Sheriff based in Tiraspol, a city located in the unrecognised Transnistria, was founded in 1997 as Tiras Tiraspol.
It was rebranded in 1998 as FC Sheriff, after the name of its main sponsor, Sheriff, a company which operates various industries in the breakaway state
The club quickly established itself within Moldovan football.
“The Wasps” recorded their debut in the first league in the 1998–99 season, when they also won their first trophy, the Moldovan Cup.
They have since amassed 19 championship titles, ten Cups and seven Super Cups–all competition records.
On the European stage, Sheriff has reached the group stage of the UEFA Europa League on four occasions and became the first ever Moldovan side to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League in 2021.
They are now the first ever Moldovan side to beat Real Madrid in their own stadium.
Real Madrid starting line-up:
1. Courtois
3. E. Militão
4. Alaba
6. Nacho
7. Hazard
9. Benzema
14. Casemiro
15. Valverde
20. Vini Jr.
25. Camavinga
35. Miguel.
Substitutes:
13. Lunin
26. Luis López
5. Vallejo
8. Kroos
10. Modrić
11. Asensio
16. Jović
17. Lucas V.
21. Rodrygo
22. Isco
24. Mariano
27. Blanco.