Thibout Courtois ends Real Madrid's 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund with a leaping save
Courtois hit the ground as the ball bounded up. He looked skyward, planted his right hand to regain his balance, grabbed the ball with both hands on the second bounce, and fell onto it with his chest. Sabitzer turned his back to the goal and put both hands on his head as Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti walked by, raised both hands, and blew the final whistle. 'In soccer, it's like this. All the teams that are here, they compete until the end,' Courtois said after Real's 3–2 victory Saturday. 'A game could become like this at any minute, and that's what happened at the end.'
Voted the top goalkeeper in 2018, Courtois has won a pair of Champions League titles with Real Madrid along with two Premier League championships and four in La Liga. 'We are so lucky that we have Thibaut on goal because Thibaut is one of those keepers that makes you win games, and today that save has been so decisive,' Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said.
Gonzalo García and Fran García scored in the first 20 minutes as Madrid built a 2–0 lead. Dortmund's Maximilian Beier scored three minutes into stoppage time, and Kylian Mbappé, who entered in the 67th, restored a two-goal lead with his bicycle kick one minute later. Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty kick in the eighth minute of added time after he was fouled by Dean Huijsen, who received a red card and will miss the semifinals.
Courtois then came up with a stop for the ages. 'It is a great big save. That's the reason why he is the best goalkeeper in the world,' Dortmund coach Niko Kovač said.
Madrid advanced to a semifinal match against Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, a day after Chelsea meets Brazilian club Fluminense. 'The nervousness–we need to learn to be more calm in the next game and finish the game in possession,' Courtois said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Bayern's Jamal Musiala Fractured His Leg in Collision With Gianluigi Donnarumma at Club World Cup
Bayern Munich says attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala faces a lengthy recovery from a leg fracture after his collision with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at the Club World Cup. Bayern said Sunday that Musiala had flown back from Florida to Munich that morning for surgery on the injury he picked up in Saturday's loss to PSG in the quarterfinals. Bayern said doctors found Musiala sustained a fracture of the fibula (bone in the lower leg) associated with an ankle dislocation. 'This serious injury and the lengthy lay-off are a real shock for Jamal and us all,' Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl said in a statement. 'Jamal has just come back from an injury and will now be out for another long period. He'll get everything he needs from us. We'll support him intensively, be by his side and already look forward to when he's back on the pitch.'
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Arsenal sign Spain midfielder Zubimendi
LONDON: Arsenal on Sunday announced the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad after they reportedly triggered his £51 million ($70 million) release clause. Euro 2024 winner Zubimendi had previously been a target for Liverpool and was also linked with Real Madrid. 'This is a huge moment in my career,' said the defensive midfielder, who is understood to have put pen to paper on a five-year deal. 'It's the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make. As soon as you set foot here, you realize how big this club and this team are. 'I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me. They have shown their potential recently and the best is yet to come.' The BBC reported the deal is worth almost £60 million, with Arsenal opting to pay more than the release clause in order to spread the cost of the fee. Zubimendi, 26, made 236 appearances in all competitions for Sociedad after graduating from the club's academy and has played 19 times for Spain. He will reinforce manager Mikel Arteta's midfield options after Thomas Partey's contract expired and Jorginho left the club. Zubimendi's arrival paves the way for Arsenal's record-signing Declan Rice to play a more attacking midfield role alongside captain Martin Odegaard. 'Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team,' said Arteta. 'He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us.' Zubimendi is Arsenal's second signing of the summer transfer window after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga joined from Chelsea as they seek to improve on three consecutive second-placed Premier League finishes. The Gunners are also expected to complete the signing of midfielder Christian Norgaard from Brentford. Attention will now turn to the forward line as Arsenal try to see off Liverpool and Manchester City and claim a first league title since 2003/04. Arteta's men had to cope without a natural striker for much of last season due to long-term injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres are reportedly the two leading candidates to fill the need for a new number nine.
Al Arabiya
11 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Thibout Courtois ends Real Madrid's 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund with a leaping save
Real Madrid's Club World Cup quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund had taken three crazy turns during nine minutes of second-half stoppage time when Marcel Sabitzer chested the ball and sent a right-footed volley toward Thibout Courtois' post. Courtois leaped to his right, extended the long arm on his 6-foot-7 frame, and just managed to get his gloved fingertips on the ball, knocking it down. Courtois hit the ground as the ball bounded up. He looked skyward, planted his right hand to regain his balance, grabbed the ball with both hands on the second bounce, and fell onto it with his chest. Sabitzer turned his back to the goal and put both hands on his head as Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti walked by, raised both hands, and blew the final whistle. 'In soccer, it's like this. All the teams that are here, they compete until the end,' Courtois said after Real's 3–2 victory Saturday. 'A game could become like this at any minute, and that's what happened at the end.' Voted the top goalkeeper in 2018, Courtois has won a pair of Champions League titles with Real Madrid along with two Premier League championships and four in La Liga. 'We are so lucky that we have Thibaut on goal because Thibaut is one of those keepers that makes you win games, and today that save has been so decisive,' Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said. Gonzalo García and Fran García scored in the first 20 minutes as Madrid built a 2–0 lead. Dortmund's Maximilian Beier scored three minutes into stoppage time, and Kylian Mbappé, who entered in the 67th, restored a two-goal lead with his bicycle kick one minute later. Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty kick in the eighth minute of added time after he was fouled by Dean Huijsen, who received a red card and will miss the semifinals. Courtois then came up with a stop for the ages. 'It is a great big save. That's the reason why he is the best goalkeeper in the world,' Dortmund coach Niko Kovač said. Madrid advanced to a semifinal match against Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, a day after Chelsea meets Brazilian club Fluminense. 'The nervousness–we need to learn to be more calm in the next game and finish the game in possession,' Courtois said.
