Bayern shoot down Real

Ironically,Ronaldos opener in the sixth minute was a confidently taken penalty.

Bayern Munich summoned all their resilience to oust Real Madrid in a nerve-jangling Champions League penalty shootout on Wednesday,denying Jose Mourinhos expensively-assembled side a tilt at a 10th European crown and setting up a final showdown against Chelsea.

Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stopped spot-kicks from Cristiano Ronaldo,who had given Real an early 2-0 lead in the semi-final second leg,and Kaka in the shootout before Bastian Schweinsteiger struck the decisive penalty to send the Germans through to the title match,to be played at their own Allianz Arena,on May 19. Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes,who won the Champions League with Real in 1998,revelled in the German clubs triumph at his former stomping ground,while Mourinho was left to ponder his sides second consecutive elimination at the last-four stage.

Reals latest setback in Europes elite club competition is a huge blow for the combative Portuguese and club president Florentino Perez,who has spent hundreds of millions of euros chasing the elusive 10th continental title. It also left Spain in a state of shock after Chelsea survived the dismissal of captain John Terry and fought back from two goals down to send holders Barcelona crashing out 3-2 on aggregate on Tuesday.

After a disastrous start,Bayern showed considerable nerve to get back into the match following Ronaldos double inside the first 14 minutes and Arjen Robben levelled to make the score 2-1 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate.

Ironically,Ronaldos opener in the sixth minute was a confidently taken penalty.

A pulsating first half with chances for both sides fell away after the break. With extra time and possibly penalties looming,the teams curbed their attacking instincts for fear of committing a fatal error. A well-drilled Bayern were more than a match for Real and played some patient and controlled football that frustrated the home fans.

With the clock ticking and the Real faithful urging on their team,the two sides lined up for the shootout before Neuer stunned by leaping low to his right to deny former World Players of the Year Ronaldo and Kaka. Iker Casillas kept Reals hopes alive by saving efforts from Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm but Sergio Ramos skied his penalty over the bar and Schweinsteiger rifled the Bavarians through.