Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A costly stoppage-time penalty miss from Kylian Mbappe summed up a frustrating night for Real Madrid, who suffered their first defeat of the LaLiga season in a 1-0 loss to Real Betis on Friday.
Madrid had controlled much of the game and created enough chances to leave the Benito Villamarin with all three points. Instead, a late goal from substitute Troy Parrott and a crucial save from Alvaro Valles denied them, leaving the visitors to wonder how they had come away empty-handed.
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The game began at a high tempo, but the intensity dropped after the interval as the heat of Seville began to take its toll. Madrid continued to push forward, though, with Mbappe among those looking to break the deadlock.
Betis eventually found the breakthrough in the 81st minute, moments after Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had produced an excellent save.
BETIS SHOCK REAL MADRID
A corner was met by a powerful header from Nelson Deossa, forcing Courtois into a diving save to his left. But the Belgian could only parry the ball into a dangerous area, and Parrott reacted quickest. The substitute, who joined Betis this year from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, was in the right place at the right time as he calmly slotted the rebound into the net.
There was a touch of poetry to the goal. Parrott had previously worked under Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur, where the Portuguese manager had publicly questioned the attitude of the then 23-year-old striker. Mourinho handed Parrott his Tottenham debut, but their relationship eventually soured, with the forward sent out on a series of loan spells at Millwall, Ipswich Town, Milton Keynes Dons, Preston North End and Excelsior before making his move to AZ Alkmaar in 2024.
Now, years after Mourinho’s doubts about him, Parrott had scored the goal that left his former manager staring at defeat.
Madrid almost responded immediately. Mbappe struck the crossbar four minutes later before substitute Carlos Espi appeared to have restored parity with a spectacular bicycle kick from a Vinicius Junior cross.
The celebrations, however, were short-lived. VAR ruled the goal out for offside, leaving Madrid still searching for an equaliser.
Betis then came close to doubling their advantage when Deossa spotted Courtois off his line and attempted a long-range effort. Courtois recovered in time to make another important save and keep Madrid within touching distance.
The visitors were handed one final chance deep into stoppage time when Natan brought down Vinicius inside the penalty area.
Mbappe stepped up, trotting towards the spot in his familiar style. But the French forward’s penalty lacked power and Valles guessed correctly, diving to his right to make the save and preserve Betis’ lead.
It was a remarkable way for Madrid’s perfect start to the season to come to an end.
“We were very dominant, the centre-backs were imperial and controlled absolutely everything,” Mourinho said after the match. “A lot of offensive play and many goal-scoring opportunities.”
Mourinho felt Madrid had done more than enough to win the game, but acknowledged that football does not always reward the better side.
“Betis, who played for the draw, hit the jackpot,” he said.
FRUSTRATED MOURINHO SUMS UP LOSS
Madrid’s frustration was summed up by their inability to turn their dominance into goals. The visitors missed several opportunities, while Valles produced a series of important saves before making the biggest one of the night in stoppage time.
“I don’t know why we lost. I can’t justify it,” Mourinho said. “Collectively, the team played very well in all aspects. Individually, they also played very well. I have nothing to reproach any player for their attitude; quite the opposite. Everyone gave their all.”
But ultimately, Madrid’s missed chances proved costly. As Mourinho put it, “We clearly deserved to win, but deserving doesn’t give you points.”
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
