MADRID: Atletico Madrid won their 10th King’s Cup when defender Miranda scored in the first half of extra time to secure a 2-1 victory against city rivals Real Madrid in a bad-tempered clash yesterday.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who was shown a straight red card near the end of the game, headed Real ahead in the 14th minute at their Bernabeu before Atletico forward Diego Costa levelled 10 minutes before halftime.
Miranda nodded in a Koke cross in the ninth minute of extra time to deny Real and coach Jose Mourinho, who was sent from the bench for protesting a decision in the second half of regular time, a 19th Cup triumph.
The match descended into chaos near the end with Ronaldo sent off after clashing with Atletico captain Gabi, a mass brawl between the substitutes and technical staff on the side of the pitch and Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois apparently hit by an object thrown from the crowd. Gabi was also handed his marching orders in the dying seconds after a second yellow.
Mourinho, who has done little to quash speculation he is on his way back to Chelsea, spent a large part of his post-match press conference defending his record at Real.
“What for many would be a good season is my worst,” he told reporters. “We have been close but that does not exist in football.”
Always outspoken, Mourinho has alienated some Real fans in recent months with his treatment of club captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who has been benched since returning from a broken hand.
Dressing room divisions burst into the open in the last few weeks, with Mourinho’s compatriot Pepe earning the coach’s wrath after a public defence of Casillas. (Reuters)