Saracens won their third Champions Cup in four seasons with an incredible 20-10 comeback victory over reigning champions Leinster on Saturday evening.
The win was Leinster’s first ever defeat in a European final and ruined their chance to become the first team to claim five Champions Cup titles.
The game was a back and forth affair for the opening quarter with both teams looking to get off to the perfect start.
It was Leinster who broke the deadlock with only four minutes gone as captain Johnny Sexton knocked over a penalty.
However, it was not until just after the half-hour mark until there was another score. Following some serious pressure from the boys in blue Maro Itoje was shown a yellow card.
Within two minutes Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong, making his 100th appearance for the club, barged over to score the opening try of the match.
Sexton made no mistake with the conversion and it was 10-0 with 34 minutes on the clock.
Sarries, with only 14 men on the pitch took the game to Leinster and were rewarded on 39 minutes when Owen Farrell slotted over a penalty to make it 10-3.
As Itoje took his place back on the pitch the clock struck 40 minutes, and with Leinster in possession it looked as though they would lead going in at half-time.
That was until Luke McGrath decided to kick forward rather than put the ball into the stands and Saracens took full advantage.
They kept possession of the ball for a further three minutes, with the clock in red before some swift hands from the back-line allowed Sean Maitland to stroll over for a try in the left corner.
Farrell was perfect from the tee and suddenly it was 10-10 at the whistle.
The second-half started well for Leinster as they tried to retake the lead. A poor decision by Garry Ringrose, who chose to keep the ball instead of passing with an overlap, proved costly as they failed to take their chances.
Saracens were more clinical in attack and when Scott Fardy was sin-binned for Leinster after a number of penalty concessions near the line, the team in red struck.
Farrell landed the penalty from Fardy’s sin-binning and with only a couple of minutes left before the Australians return Saracens dealt the killer blow.
As Leinster failed to clear their lines a scrum were Saracens had a full eight man pack, to Leinster’s seven was crucial as they won their own ball and Billy Vunipola crashed over between the posts. Farrell added the extras and with only 10 minutes left it was 20-10.
Even when Fardy returned Leinster could not get near the Saracens line as the game finished 20-10 in the English champions favour.
The result means that Saracens have now become the most successful English team in the competitions history while Leinster remain with four titles of their own.
Both must now dust themselves down and prepare for the final stages of their respective domestic competitions as they fight to defend their Pro 14 and Premiership crowns.
Player
Ratings:
Leinster:
Rob Kearney (5), Jordan Larmour (6), Garry Ringrose
(5), Robbie Henshaw (7), James Lowe (5), Johnny Sexton (7), Luke McGrath (8);
Cian Healy (7), Sean Cronin (6), Tadhg Furlong (8), Devin Toner (6), James Ryan
(6), Scott Fardy (6), Sean O’Brien (5), Jack Conan (7)
Replacements (5)
Saracens:
Alex Goode (7), Liam Williams (7), Alex Lozowski
(8), Brad Barritt (7), Sean Maitland (8), Owen Farrell (8), Ben Spencer (7);
Mako Vunipola (6), Jamie George (7), Titi Lamositele (6), Will Skelton (7),
George Kruis (9), Maro Itoje (7), Jackson Wray (7), Billy Vunipola (9)
Replacements (9)
