by Marc Roseblade
Athletico Madrid won European silverware for the first time last night with a 2-1 extra time win over English side Fulham.
The Spanish side waited until the 116th minute to score the winning goal and reap heartache on the Fulham players and fans.
Atlético Madrid celebrate in the Spanish capital
Diego Forlan, who had a troubled time at Old Trafford when he played for Manchester United, seems to relish playing against English opponents. He tormented Liverpool in the semi-finals and did a bit of the same against Fulham last night, scoring both goals in the 2-1 win. The Uruguayan striker now heads into the World Cup with a golden Europa League medal hanging from his neck.
Forlan’s 2nd goal seemed to take a deflection past the London side’s goalkeeper and was a crushing end to the game for Roy Hodgson and his players whose credibility has risen to new levels with this European cup run.
Athletico dominated the game as Fulham struggled to reach their form from previous rounds and even their talisman Bobby Zamora, who was struggling with injury, had to be substituted early in the 2nd half. It looks like surgery (and not a last minute Capello call-up) is imminent for Zamora.
Atlético’s players arrived home at 06.40CET to face hundreds of screaming fans who had waited all night for a glimpse of their heroes. After a deserved rest, the squad mounted an open-top bus at the gates of the Vicente Calderón for a long procession through the streets of Madrid. Thousands of fans lined the route that would eventually lead to the Neptune fountain, the site where Los Colchoneros traditionally celebrate.
Its been 48 years since Los Rojiblancos’ last European victory and with the team they have, few will doubt that it won’t be as long until the next one.
Atletico Madrid v Fulham
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Marc Roseblade is a ONELOVE Ambassador based in Scotland. Be sure to check him out at ‘Scottish Football Blog’
