Socceroos greats Mark Bosnich and Craig Foster slammed Antoine Griezmann’s “stupid” red card which proved a massive moment in Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid this morning.
The French World Cup winner scored both of Atletico’s goals before being sent off in a classic hero to villain outing at the Metropolitano.
Griezmann’s boot made contact with Roberto Firmino’s head as he reached high for the ball in the second half.
Watch Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo and football’s biggest superstars in the UEFA Champions League with every match streaming ad free, live and on demand only on Stan Sport. Start your seven day free trial here!
Liverpool capitalised on the advantage with Mohamed Salah scoring the 78th minute winner from the penalty spot.
“If I was (Atletico manager Diego) Simeone I’d be very upset with Griezmann,” Bosnich said on Stan Sport.
“Forget about intent, that was serious foul play, it was a sending off and there was no need for it. Just stupid, no need for it whatsoever. He didn’t need to do it…
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp storms out of interview after handshake snub
READ MORE: Ben Simmons kicked out of Sixers practice, cops $1.4m fine
READ MORE: Novak Djokovic will have to reveal his vaccination status
“Where’s Firmino going there, what’s he going to do to you? The most he’s going to do is head the ball two or three metres away from you, big deal…
“Huge moment and there’s no need for it whatsoever.
“A definite send off, serious foul play, it’s endangering the safety of another player.
“Why? He’s going nowhere.”
https://twitter.com/StanSportFC/status/1450553358348013569?s=20
Foster concurred and was staggered by the naivety and lack of awareness from such an experienced and high class player.
“In that area of the pitch you know there’s a lot of players around in midfield,” Foster said.
“You’re turning, you know that there’s people around in close proximity and you go do that. It’s too much risk. He’s taken his head off!
Egypt forward Salah has scored in nine straight games for Liverpool in all competitions, becoming the first player to do that in the club’s 129 year history.
Atletico had a penalty a few minutes after Liverpool’s third goal but it was reversed after video review.
Naby Keita also scored for Liverpool in the first half as Liverpool took a 2-0 lead in the 13th minute.
“It was a tough game,” Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said.
“How you win it, I couldn’t care less. The tricky ones are the really important ones. On a night like this, three points is really massive.”
The result left Liverpool at the top of Group B with nine points from three matches, five points more than Atletico.
Porto, which beat AC Milan 1-0 at home in the other group match, was level with the Spanish champions.
Milan stayed on zero points.
Atletico next visits Liverpool, while Milan hosts Porto.
It was the first meeting between Atletico and Liverpool since the Spanish side eliminated then defending European champion Liverpool in the round of 16 of the 2019-20 season.
Liverpool had been winless against Atletico in four Champions League matches.
https://twitter.com/StanSportFC/status/1450563752164687872?s=20
The English club was in control early and quickly built its lead.
Salah opened the scoring in the eighth minute after picking up a ball on the right flank and maneuvering past three Atletico defenders before sending a low shot into the corner.
The ball hit the heel of Geoffrey Kondogbia and spun into the corner.
Keita added to the lead five minutes later with a neat volley that curled in by the post.
Atletico defender Felipe mishit his clearing shot and the ball went straight to Keita for his one-timer from just outside the area.
“We didn’t start the game the way we wanted,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.
“Only after their second goal we could do the things that we had been trying to do.”
Griezmann pulled the hosts closer with a redirection from close range in the 20th after Koke sent a low shot across the area, then equalised after a good run by Joao Felix for his sixth double with Atletico in the Champions League, the most by any player for the club.
Griezmann’s performance was marred by his red card in the 52nd as he went for a high ball but hit the side of Firmino’s head instead.
Before leaving, Griezmann apologized to Firmino, who was making his 300th appearance with Liverpool.
Salah scored the winner from the penalty spot after Atletico defender Mario Hermoso shoved Diogo Jota following a long ball sent into the area.
Atletico loudly complained of the reversed penalty call after Jose Maria Gimenez went down inside the area following an encounter with Jota in a similar play that led to Liverpool’s penalty.
https://twitter.com/StanSportFC/status/1450569608000196614?s=20
“You could tell that the referee wasn’t sure, but the other way it was all very fast (to call the penalty for Liverpool),” said Felipe, who felt a yellow card should have been shown for Griezmann instead of the red.
“It was a completely different match while Griezmann was still playing. We had to run at 110 per cent after he was sent off.”
Simeone started with Griezmann and Felix up front, leaving Luis Suarez on the bench as he returned from his duty with Uruguay’s national team nursing a knock.
The striker had never played against his former club since joining Atletico from Barcelona last season.
Simeone and Klopp did not shake hands after the final whistle.
The Atletico coach rushed into the tunnel after the match ended, and later said he never likes to shake hands with opposing coaches after games.
“He was obviously angry,” Klopp said. “With the game, with the world.”