Picture by: Salim Matramkot | The Peninsula
Bayern Munich created history when they edged Tigres UANL 1-0 in the final to clinch their second FIFA World Cup title at the Education City Stadium on Thursday.
Frenchman Benjamin Pavard struck the winner just before the hour-mark last night as the European champions sealed their sixth title of the season for the first time since the club was formed in 1900.
Barcelona – under coach Pep Guardiola – was the first side to win six crowns in a single season in 2009.
Under coach Hans-Dieter Flick – who joined the club in November 2019 - the Bavarians claimed the German Super Cup, the Bundesliga, the German Cup, the Champions League and the European Super Cup this season before captain Manuel Neuer lifted the World Cup at the Qatar 2022 venue.
Thursday's triumph also means that Flick have won more trophies than Bayern lost matches (5) out of 68th competitive games under him. Bayern, by restricting Tigres from scoring also maintained their record of not conceding a single goal from four games, equalling Barcelona’s record in the competition.
The day of the showdown, however, did not start well for the German side who found out that Thomas Müller was tested positive for the coronavirus.
With experienced duo of Müller, 31, and central defender Jerome Boateng – who flew back home for personal reasons – out of the final, Flick made three changes in the starting XI.
He retained a 4-2-3-1 formation, fielding Niklas Süle, Leroy Sane and Lucas Hernandez while dropping Marc Roca, who started in 2-0 semi-final win against Al Ahly on Monday.
Ricardo Ferretti, on the other, decided against making changes in the starting XI as he adopted a 4-4-2 formation.
Despite missing their main players, Bayern, who won last seven competitive matches on neutral venue before the final, were on fire from the start against Tigres, who stunned Brazilian giants Palmeiras in the semi-final.
Kingsley Coman and Robert Lewandowski – who netted a brace against Al Ahly – made early inroads as Bayern took control over Tigres after the CONCACAF Champions League winners started the game on a bright note, with Frenchman André-Pierre Gignac storming into the box in the first minute.
Joshua Kimmich almost took the Bavarians ahead in the 18th minute with a superb strike from around 20 yards out on the right defeating goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán, but referee Esteban Ostojich – after consulting with VAR – disallowed the goal ruling that Lewandowski was in offside position.
Seeking a breakthrough, Bayern continued to attack with Guzmán saving Coman’s firing strike in 25th minute. Best FIFA Goalkeeper Neuer punched away a corner after half-hour mark following a rare surge by the Mexicans.
Tigres were eager to go into the halftime with a clean sheet and succeeded in doing that at the cost of a yellow card to Jesús Dueñas, who was cautioned by Ostojich for delaying tactics, three minutes before the breather.
The European champions made their first attempt of the second half, six minutes after the title clash resumed as Serge Gnabry, receiving a pass from David Alaba targeted a far corner but his strike went wide.
The moment finally came in 59th minute for Bayern when Pavard slotted home and after VAR check on Lewandowski – going up for a cross – referee declared the goal legal. It was Pavard’s first goal since May 30 last year when he scored against Düsseldorf in Bundesliga.
After the goal, Flick made four substitutions within nine minutes sending in Corentin Tolisso for Gnabry in 64th minutes before calling back Leroy Sane, Lewandowski and Coman to send fresh attack in Jamal Musiala, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Douglas Costa, nine minutes later.
Ferretti, on the other hand, made his first change just 10 minutes before time, fielding Julián Quinones to replace Luis Rodriguez.
Tolisso made his presence felt with an attempt before Tigres escaped an own goal after a confusion between Salcedo and Guzman.
Five minutes before time, Choupo-Moting created a golden chance to double the lead but Costa put the ball straight in Guzman’s hand after receiving a pass on a good position.
Bayern continued their aggressive display even during four minutes of stoppage time before Gignac made a failed last-gasp effort to equalise as Bayern secured their second World Cup crown after their maiden triumph in 2013.
Tigres, despite the defeat, have reason to smile as they became the first Mexican side to claim silver in the tournament.
Lewandowski, who took home the Golden Ball trophy, said: “We really wanted to win today. The goal that we scored was probably from the first cross that came in. I said to the boys at half-time, come on, put a few more crosses in.
They managed it once and that’s how we won, and that’s an amazing thing! It’s a shame that Thomas Muller wasn’t able to be here. We are flying back straight home to Munich, there is no time to celebrate.”
