La Decima

The night of May 24, 2014, was warm in Dhaka. 

One could listen to the noises of TV from the nearby houses even at 2:45 am. 

The sounds of cheer diminishing into despair could be heard. 

A group was cheering as if the match was over in favour of Atlético Madrid while a group was just left pondering what might have been - perhaps, the wait would prolong. 

The UEFA Champions League Final of 2013-14 at Lisbon witnessed Atleti - the newly crowned La Liga champions taken on a battle-hardened Los Blancos who entered the field to break the 12-year-old jinx. 

In the 36th minute - From a set-piece, a cross was sent into the Real Madrid box, where the Jackal in the Box - hard nut Uruguayan Diego Godin looped a header over the line, despite the best attempts of Iker Casillas to claw the ball away. 

Casillas was in an absolute no-man's land there - what was he playing at? 

Either way, Godin added another important goal to his collection following his title-winning contribution at Barcelona.

The Royal Whites had to respond quickly but time was running out. 

The Madridistas - watching all over the globe in front of their TV sets, wished they could control time, space and reality. They prayed that the stars in the sky could make a perfect alignment for a Los Blancos comeback. 

Atleti were 120 seconds away from the ultimate glory when Real Madrid was awarded a corner on the right side of the field for the second time. 

The first one was not productive but while taking the second one Luka Modrić looped over in a manner that it discovered a waiting Sergio Ramos who guided into the bottom left corner from 12 yards! 

What a stunning header, not only to get across Tiago but, also to guide it into the only place Thibaut Courtois couldn't reach it!

92:48 minute - 1-1 

Florentino Perez was seen as relieved. Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane were relieved from an acute nervous breakdown. The supporters of Real Madrid had gained their voice. 

In Mirpur, Dhaka - a loud cheer broke the silence of the night. 

Ramos has injected life and in extra time a carnage by Madrid took place as Atleti sunk and Real Madrid achieved La Decima. 

Unbelievable match. 

Unbelievable feelings. 

Unforgettable night. 

The jinx was broken and the number of despair lessened in the last 10 years. 

Hala Madrid! 

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar