Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he is ‘a little sad’ after his side were beaten 2-1 by Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol in their UEFA Champions League group game on Tuesday.
The Spanish giants dominated in both halves but still fell to defeat in the dying moments of the game thanks to a stunning 89th-minute goal by Sebastien Thill.
The 13-time European champions needed a penalty to equalise after the Champions League debutants Sheriff went ahead in the 25th minute with a header from Uzbek midfielder Jasurbek Yakhshiboev.
Carlo Ancelloti’s men had 30 shots on goal, compared to the visitors’ four. They won 13 corners compared to none for the Moldovan side, while the Spanish side had 67% of possession on Tuesday night.
But Sherrif had the last laugh in the game as Sebastien Thill scored late to earn his side, arguably the biggest shock in UCL history.
“I’m a little sad as I think we deserved to win,” said Carlo Ancelotti said after the game.
“You could say we had bad luck. We lost the game on the small details. They scored their goals on the counter-attack and from a throw-in. We had a lot of shots at goal, but sometimes luck deserts you in games.
“Everything went well for them. Everything went wrong for us.”
Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro also echoed his coach’s sentiment, insisting that the visiting goalkeeper saved the day.
“We had so many shots, their goalkeeper made a lot of saves, and I think you have to congratulate them for scoring two goals,” Casemiro said.
“We were in control of the game, had many chances, and then they scored a wonder goal.”
Sheriff sit top of their Champions League with six points from two games while Real are second with three.
The Moldavian side came through four rounds of qualifying to become the first team from the country to play in the group phase of the UCL.
