The Manchester City football club of England on Saturday at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey lifted the European Champions League trophy for the first time in history with a lone goal victory over Inter Milan FC of Italy.
Defensive Midfielder, Rodrigo Hernenaez Cascante simply known in global football family as Rodri scored a brilliant one 68th minute from a blinding shot in a goal mouth melee that outstandingly beat Cameroonian Goalkeeping International, Andre Onana in goal for Inter Milan.
Super sub, Romero Lukaku who lost several chances and Martinez on the Inter attacking line lost more than five scoring chances at goal. Inter had 14 shots at goal with 6 on target while City had 7 shots at goal with 4 on target. City dominated the ball possession with 511-395 holds while the passes stringed were 56-44% in favor of City but Inter was more aggressive committing 17-11 fouls with 2 yellow cards each way and then Inter had 4 -2 corner kicks.
Security men had a great challenge to shield Man City goal machine Erling Haaland, who Inter ensured he did not get a goal, from the surging crowd in the memorable celebration thereafter.
Nigerian musical ace Damilola Ebunoluwa Ogulu known as Burna Boy entertained at the closing ceremony.
Manchester City founded in 1880 with Pep Guardiola as Manager, was devastating from the Group G stages beating Servile 4-0 and 3-1 (7-1 agg); Dortmund 2-1; Copenhagen 5-0 and 0-0 (5-0 agg). City topped Group G with 14 points; Dortmund 9 points; Servile 5 points and Copenhagen 3 points.
At the round of 16, Leipzig got 1-1 but lost 7-0 at the Etihad making 8-1 agg; City beat Bayern Munich 3-0 and drew the second leg 1-1 (4-1) in the quarters and in the semifinal, City drew 1-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu with Real Madrid and slaughtered Real 4-0 in the second leg (5-1 agg).
City never won the trophy but is making her second appearance in the final after losing to Chelsea 0-1 in the 2012 final which featured John Mikel Obi ofhttp://John Mikel Obi of Chelsea, the only Nigerian player to have appeared at the Champions League final.
Man City made it a treble having pocketed the prestigious Premier League and the FA Cup in England lost in their last Champions League appearance to Real Madrid 0-1 in the 2015/16 edition.
Three times Champions league winner, Inter Milan nicknamed Nerazzurri and managed by Simone Inzaghi was founded in 1908 and emerged from Group C. Inter played Bayern Munich 0-2 and 0-2 in the 2nd meeting; beat Viktoria Pizen 0-2 at their backyard and 4-0 at the return match (6-0 agg) and beat Barca 1-0 at home before the 3-3 at the Spotify Camp Nou (4-3).
Inter placed 2nd in Group C after Bayern Munich that chalked 18 points with Inter making 10 points Barca scored 7 points and Pizen had no point.
At the round of 16, Inter defeated Porto 1-0 in the first leg and played goalless in the second leg; Inter dismissed Benefica after 3-3 draw and went to Benefica ground to shock the team grabbing a 2-0 win (5-3) win in the quarterfinals and in the derby between Inter Milan and AC Milan both of Italy, it was 2-1 aggregate advantage Inter Milan.
Inter Milan won the Champions League in 1964; 1965 and 2010 when the Special One, Jose Maurinho
was the Manager. Inter that year won the FIFA world club cup 2010. Inter Milan won the Europa League Cup, next in value to Champions League cuo in 1991; 1994 and 1998.
NB: The Author, Eniola Olatunji (Formerly Yomi Kassim) has been in the media for some 46 years with vast experience in Radio Sports Commentaries and Newspaper reporting. He worked as Presenter/Producer on many radio stations and Reporter/Editor in some Newspapers,
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