Anatoliy Trubin admitted he had no idea why he was being sent forward for the final throes of last night’s game with Real Madrid. Seconds later, the Benfica goalkeeper scored one of the most memorable goals in Champions League history.
WIth time almost up, and Benfica winning 3-2, the home side were awarded a free-kick by the right touchline. Little did he know but the Lisbon club needed one more goal to edge out Marseille on goal difference and secure a place in the play-offs.
Fredrik Aursnes whipped in a brilliant delivery and Trubin rose highest to power a bullet header past Thibaut Courtois and spark scenes of delirium inside the Estadio da Luz.
It was unbelievable, admits Trubin
The Ukrainian said: ”I didn’t realise what we needed. Tomás [Araújo] and António [Silva] were saying ‘one, one’, and I was like, ‘What?’. But then I saw everyone telling me to go up. I also saw the manager, so I went up, went into the box and I don’t know… I don’t know what to say. It was a crazy moment. I’m not used to scoring. I’m 24 years of age and it’s my first time. Unbelievable.”
It was a sweet moment for former Madrid boss Jose Mourinho.
“We knew that he could do it,” he said of Trubin. ”We were losing in Porto a couple of weeks ago, and in the last minute, he went up, and he almost scored. So we know that the big guy is capable of this. The quality of the service, of course, is the most important thing. You have to put the ball there, but it’s an amazing goal for the guy.”
We were not afraid of Real Madrid – Trubin
Trubin felt Benfica deserved the win despite being in awe of Madrid’s star-studded line-up.
He added: “We started well. We were not afraid, no. Real Madrid has 15 titles in the Champions League, that says a lot about the team they are. We had no other choice but to win, but we are Benfica. We played to win and I think we were very good. They have amazing players, maybe the best but, as a team, we did it.”
The challenge for Benfica now is to take their Champions League form into their domestic competitions, starting at the weekend with a trip to lowly Tondela in the Primeira Liga.
Benfica are currently third, 10 points behind leaders Porto.
Trubin said: ”Benfica has to win titles and add victories. Nothing else matters. It was important to move forward tonight, so it’s a good feeling, but we have to be focused, because now everything seems perfect and we can celebrate today and tomorrow, but Sunday we have a game and we know well what position we are in. We have to concentrate and continue on our way, working hard.”
