'What a joke': Fans divided over Champions League moment
A controversial penalty decision after 23 seconds of the Champions League final has helped Liverpool clinch their sixth European title and left fans divided.
Thousands descended on Madrid for a legacy-defining encounter at the end of a scarcely-believable continental campaign, with both Liverpool and Tottenham narrowly making it through the group stage and then completing jaw-dropping semi-final wins.
But only one could emerge triumphant at the Wanda Metropolitano and Liverpool would be crowned champions of Europe for a sixth time as Mohamed Salah’s early spot-kick was followed by a strike from semi-final hero Divock Origi in a 2-0 win.
Salah slotted home the second minute strike from the spot to notch the second fastest goal in the history of Champions League finals.
However, there was plenty of debate around whether Moussa Sissoko should have had the penalty given against him, after the Spurs midfielder was struck by an attempted Liverpool cross inside the box.
"He's only got himself to blame because you can't be having your arm in that position inside the penalty area," former player and Optus Sport analyst Michael Bridges said.
However, plenty of fans disagreed with Bridges as the incident sparked heated debate on social media.
"He's only got himself to blame because you can't be having your arm in that position."@mickybridges8 and @tsorensen1 discuss THAT second-minute penalty, which remains the difference between Spurs and the Reds at the break.
HT: Spurs 0 - 1 Liverpool. #OptusSport #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/jsGq59qQq3— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) June 1, 2019
Liverpool going to win the Champions League over a penalty which should have been overruled by VAR. What a joke.
— Aidan Walsh 🔰 (@AidanWalshMUFC) June 1, 2019
Liverpool were awarded a
penalty after just 23 seconds.
The right call ? 🤔#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/l78mh2z5Ay— UCL FINAL 🏆 (@TheSporTalk) June 1, 2019
If you’re not a Liverpool fan and you think that was a penalty, I will personally book you an appointment with Specsavers
— John (@John04407982) June 1, 2019
Liverpool winning it thanks to yet another absurd handball penalty decision just about sums up the bizarre lottery that is playing in the UEFA Champions League.
— Tim Smallbone (@TimSmallbone) June 1, 2019
"It hits his chest first! Is it intentional? No way!" 😡
"I think it's a penalty 10 years ago and I think it's a penalty now!"
"The referee has no option but to award it."
Mixed opinions in the BT Sport studio about the decision to award Liverpool a penalty...#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/v9afYiFrKA— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) June 1, 2019
Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs players dropped to the deck as the red hordes went wild at full-time as Jurgen Klopp ended his cup final hoodoo to win his first trophy as manager of the club and ease the hurt of missing out on the Premier League title.
Champions League glory also helped put last year’s final loss in Kiev behind them.
Then, Salah left the field in tears after a clash with Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos resulted in a shoulder injury. This time his early spot-kick set Liverpool on course for glory.
And while this all-English final was not a classic due to a mixture of the heat, tension and the teams’ three-week breaks, Liverpool fans will not care after breaking Tottenham hearts in what was their first European Cup final.
Pochettino will be frustrated his side were not able to produce more, although Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was in fine form.
Returning star Harry Kane failed to make an impact, whereas Origi once again proved an unlikely Champions League hero for the Anfield team.
Almost sold last summer, his brace in the semi-final win against Barcelona was followed by a superbly-taken strike off the bench in Madrid to seal the trophy for Liverpool as Spurs fell short.
With agencies
