Bayern won, but offside
18 Februari 2010The controversy surrounded Klose's 89th minute header
overshadowed Bayern's achievement in notching their 13th
successive win in all competitions.
Fiorentina were down to 10 men and hanging on grimly when
Arjen Robben's powerful drive was parried by Fiorentina
goalkeeper Sebastien Frey.
The ball fell to Ivica Olic, who headed on for Klose to
score with another diving header.
The Italians protested furiously to the linesman after
Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo allowed the goal to stand
and Juan Vargas was booked for dissent.
"It was clearly offside," said Bayern coach Louis van Gaal.
"We have had a lot of lucky with this goal but having said that
we were unlucky because we missed three or four chances
immediately beforehand."
His opposite number Cesare Prandelli said: "It was offside.
The linesman was very, very far away but we have to accept it.
We have played an extraordinary Champions League match."
Fiorentina, hit by suspensions and injuries, had taken only
one point from their last five Serie A games and were rank
outsiders against the in-form Bavarians.
Bayern went ahead with an Robben penalty in first-half
stoppage time after a foul on Franck Ribery, the Dutchman
sending Frey the wrong way.
NERVOUS START
Per Kroldrup levelled for the Italians five minutes after
the re-start, turning in the ball from close range after a
corner.
Fiorentina had Massimo Gobbi sent off for an apparent elbow
in Robben's face in the 73rd minute.
Bayern started nervously, committing several blunders in
defence. At one point Martin Demichelis gave the ball straight
to Marco Marchionni as he tried to start a move from defence
while another mix-up led to a furious argument between
goalkeeper Joerg Butt and Daniel van Buyten.
Following the goals either side of halftime, the Germans
regained control of the game but were repeatedly frustrated.
Robben should have put Bayern back in front but fired wide
from 15 metres after being teed up by Thomas Mueller.
Seconds before scoring the winner, Klose had the crowd
howling in frustration when he fired over from inside the
penalty area.
The winner put Bayern in an tarmac road to clinch the title after waiting for years.