Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol stun Real Madrid

Debutants from Transnistria win away from home at the death

Minnows Sheriff Tiraspol stunned Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Photograph: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty
Minnows Sheriff Tiraspol stunned Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Photograph: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty

Real Madrid 1 Sheriff Tiraspol 2

Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol pulled off a remarkable 2-1 win away to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, snatching a shock victory thanks to a sensational 89th-minute strike from Sebastien Thill.

Competition debutants Sheriff went ahead against the 13-times European champions in the 25th minute with a header from Uzbek midfielder Jasurbek Yakhshiboev, who narrowly missed a chance to double the visitors’ lead later in the first half.

Real dominated the play in both halves but needed a penalty to draw level. Karim Benzema buried his spot-kick in the top corner in the 65th minute after Vinicius Jr was felled and awarded a penalty following a VAR review, having been denied a spot kick after a previous review moments earlier.

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Real substitute Luka Jovic spurned a great chance to win it for the hosts but Sheriff quickly got down the other end and following a throw-in the ball fell to Luxembourg midfielder Thill, who unleashed a lethal shot into the far top corner.

Sheriff, from the unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria, top Champions League Group D with six points from two games while Real are second with three.