Bale authors the Decimotercera
Gareth Bale came off the bench to score twice, including one of the all-time great goals in a Champions League final, as Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev on Saturday to take the trophy for the third year running.
Bale's jaw-dropping overhead kick in the 64th minute put Real 2-1 up moments after his introduction, following a dramatic start to the second half in which Karim Benzema gave Real the lead as a result of a Loris Karius howler.
Sadio Mane had briefly restored parity, but Bale put Real in front again and then sealed the triumph late on with a long-range strike that the unfortunate Karius could only punch into the net.
Jurgen Klopp's and Liverpool's own evening was marred by the loss of a distraught Mohamed Salah to injury in the first half, the Egyptian coming off half an hour in having damaged his shoulder.
This was not to be Salah's night, with Zinedine Zidane becoming the first coach to win the Champions League three years in a row. This is their 13th title overall.
"With a team like this we can go far, but to win three of them, it's something crazy," Zidane said.
For Liverpool, the game will be remembered for the disaster that befell Karius in the second half, and for Salah's tears as he departed the pitch at the NSC Olympiyskyi.
The Egyptian hurt his left shoulder as he went down in a challenge with Sergio Ramos in the 25th minute. Five minutes later he made way for Adam Lallana, and his presence at the World Cup is now in doubt.
"We wanted everything and got nothing. We lost an important player and probably Egypt lost for the World Cup an important player," Klopp said.
Benzema opened the scoring in the 51st minute after a moment of unbelievable carelessness from Karius, who attempted to roll the ball out to the nearest red shirt only for Benzema to stick out a leg and send it trickling into the net.
Klopp's side really could have let their heads drop, but they were soon back level, Mane turning the ball in after Dejan Lovren headed down a corner.
But their renewed hope was crushed upon the introduction of Bale. The Welshman had been on the field barely two minutes when he met Marcelo's cross from the left with an improbable leap, back to goal, 15 yards out, to send an overhead kick on his left foot arcing over Karius and in.
That deserved to be the winner, although it was his long-range shot in the 83rd minute that ensured victory.
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