“Three goals in 3 finals” – Fans and Zidane hail Sergio Ramos after Real Madrid’s hard fought victory over Sevilla

Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos reacts after scoring during the UEFA Super Cup final football match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC on August 9, 2016 at the Lerkendal Stadium in Trondheim. / AFP / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (Photo credit should read JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Zinedine Zidane’s young Madrid side managed a superb comeback thanks to an extra time winner by Dani Carvajal to come out victorious against Jorge Samapoli’s Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup.

The first half kicked off with both sides looking equally threatening. Even though Sevilla enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the first half, they couldn’t create too many chances in the final third to threaten Los Blancos. Sevilla were equally resilient in their defending and it was no surprise that Real only managed to score via a magical 20-yard strike from Marcus Asenio after 20 minutes. Sampaoli’s men would eventually be rewarded for their patience late in the first half as Franco Vazquez finally managed to breach the Real Madrid defence in the 41st minute with a well-placed left-footed volley.

The second half started with renewed vigour from both sides. Real Madrid created chance after chance, but were unable to capitalise on any of their opportunities, shooting high, wide, or straight at the keeper. Sevilla, for the most part, kept absorbing wave after wave of attack launched by Zidane’s men. The game was mostly fought in the middle of the park with midfielders from both sides battling for possession until the 71st minute, when Ramos conceded a debatable penalty after Vietto tripped over him. Konoplyanka stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake from 12 yards out. Real Madrid continued attacking Sevilla’s goal. Their patience and pressure would pay off in the 92nd minute, when captain Sergio Ramos would head in the equaliser to send the match into extra time. Dani Carvajal scored from a stunning solo effort thanks to some horrid defending from Sevilla in the second half of extra time to send the Real Madrid fans, bench and social media into delirium.

Zidane praised their opposition in his post match press conference, saying “You have to congratulate Sevilla on their great performance. Sometimes to play a great game it takes two sides and today we saw just that. In the end we won, but Sevilla were very good.” The former French captain hailed his captain Sergio Ramos for his incredible effort in helping turn the game around, saying there were no special instructions for him. “Sergio Ramos is our captain, an important player and he’s always there to earn us the trophy,” he said. “With a player like Sergio, he’s always been the difference. We’ve seen it before. He’s grown as a player, too. In this final he was there just where he needed to be.”

There were some skeptical fans who wondered why young Marcus Asenio was named in the starting XI, but the Spaniard repaid Zidane’s faith in superb fashion by unleashing a thunderbolt from his left foot.

Franco Vazquez later got the equaliser with a well placed left foot volley and his goal was his first for Sevilla, with his first ever shot.

Carvajal’s winner sent the Real Madrid fans into delirium!

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