Origi gets another key goal to ensure Liverpool wins CL

By: Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press Posted: 6:47 PM CDT Saturday, Jun. 1, 2019

MADRID - When Liverpool was struggling to protect its lead in Saturday's Champions League final, coach Juergen Klopp's turned to Divock Origi to get the decisive goal.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

MADRID - When Liverpool was struggling to protect its lead in Saturday's Champions League final, coach Juergen Klopp's turned to Divock Origi to get the decisive goal.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/06/2019 (2676 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MADRID – When Liverpool was struggling to protect its lead in Saturday’s Champions League final, coach Juergen Klopp’s turned to Divock Origi to get the decisive goal.

The 24-year-old Belgian forward came through with an 87th-minute strike to quash a last-gasp rally by Tottenham and clinch a 2-0 win that earned the Reds their sixth European Cup.

Origi had already proven critical to Liverpool even reaching the final.

Liverpool's Divock Origi kisses the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Saturday, June 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

With Mohamed Salah out with a concussion, he had scored twice in a remarkable 4-0 victory over Lionel Messi’s Barcelona to help Liverpool overhaul a 3-0 first-leg disadvantage in the semifinals.

So when striker Roberto Firmino was largely ineffective in attack against Tottenham, Klopp called Origi off his bench as his first substitute in the 58th minute.

Tottenham had been unable to muster a shot on goal during a first half that started with Salah giving Liverpool the lead in the second minute from the penalty spot.

But Mauricio Pochettino’s side improved after Lucas Moura joined the attack, and Liverpool started to feel the pressure of being so close to the title.

That was when Origi showed the poise Liverpool’s other attacking players had mostly lacked when the ball fell to him unmarked on the left side of the box.

With a coolly-placed left-footed strike beyond the reach of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Origi sparked the celebrations among the red-clad end of the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

It was quite a turnaround for Origi, who has gone from afterthought to hero this season. Last year he was loaned out to German side Wolfsburg and was reportedly close to being sold last summer.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports