SPAIN:Bale hails perfect night after winner

17 Apr 2014 01:44:54
Gareth Bale hailed a "perfect night"
after his stunning winner for Real
Madrid against Barcelona in Wednesday's
King's Cup final, his first trophy since
moving to Spain for a record fee in the close
season.
The Wales winger sprinted from the halfway
line into the penalty area five minutes from
time at the Mestalla in Valencia before
slipping the ball brilliantly between the legs
of Barca goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto to
seal a 2-1 victory.
After a season disrupted by a series of
niggling injuries when many questioned his
exorbitant price tag, it was the perfect way to
reward Real's efforts in engineering his move
from Premier League side Tottenham
Hotspur.
"It was a perfect night," Bale told reporters.
"It is great to win trophies and I am very
happy to have won my first title with Real
Madrid," added the 24-year-old.
"This victory was for the fans for all the
support they have given us. The atmosphere
was fantastic."
Real are in with a chance of winning a rare
treble of La Liga, Champions League and
King's Cup this season and Bale said he was
confident the team were capable of winning
at least one more trophy.
His goal showcased his physical prowess as
he left Marc Bartra, who headed Barca's
68th-minute equaliser after Angel Di Maria
had opened the scoring in the 11th, for dead
before homing in on goal.
"I had to run, Bartra pushed me and tried to
block me but he couldn't," Bale said.
"I had to get around him. It was great to
score the goal but better to win the match
and the Cup."
© Reuters