Clermont 17-28 Saracens: Sarries defend Champions Cup title in Edinburgh

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Highlights of the European Champions Cup final between Saracens and Clermont Auvergne

Saracens successfully defended their Champions Cup title with a 28-17 win over Clermont at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The north Londoners were in complete control early in the second quarter, with tries from Chris Ashton and George Kruis giving them a 12-0 lead.

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Watch Saracens' dressing room celebrations

But Clermont hit back either side of half-time through Remi Lamerat and Nick Abendanon, and it was only an Owen Farrell penalty that gave Saracens a one-point advantage early in the second half.

Farrell and Camille Lopez then traded penalties to keep things close before Alex Goode took a pass from Farrell down the right touchline to score the winning try with eight minutes remaining. Farrell converted then added another penalty, and Clermont were unable to find a way back into the game.

Saracens celebrate with the Champions Cup trophy

The victory extends Saracens' winning run in Europe's top flight to 18 games, and they become the fourth team in history to win back-to-back titles.

Man of the match

Summary

In a frenetic opening period Ashton almost crossed the whitewash inside the first two minutes, but he was brought down by a brilliant tackle from Abendanon in the left corner.

However the Saracens winger was still the man to open the scoring, getting on the end of a perfectly-weighted grubber ahead from Goode to cross for a try which gave him a world-record tally of 37 in Europe.

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A disappointed Nick Abendanon gives his reaction following Clermont's loss to Saracens

Owen Farrell missed the conversion, but he made no such mistake when Kruis crashed over from close range in the 23rd minute, giving Clermont a mountain to climb with the defending champions 12-0 ahead.

But the Frenchmen hit back, turning down a potential shot at goal for a kick to the corner, and though their driving maul was held up over the line, the resulting scrum laid the platform for Lamerat to dive over for Clermont's opening score.

Alex Goode scores the decisive try against Clermont

Lopez converted, and the teams went into the break with Saracens five points ahead.

Farrell extended his side's lead from the tee early in the second half to make it 15-7, before Abendanon scored arguably the try of the game. Scott Spedding counter-attacked from inside his own 22, beating a flurry of defenders before being brought down. Clermont then got their offloading game going, and Peceli Yato and Fritz Lee combined to put Abendanon over.

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Abendanon finished an incredible length-of-the-field try for Clermont

Lopez's conversion made it a one-point game, and the fly-half traded further penalties with Farrell to make it 18-17 to Saracens with the game closing out. Goode then scored what proved to be the winner in the 73rd minute, and Farrell's conversion and third penalty was enough to retain Europe's premier title.

Moment of the match

Chris Ashton dives over to score the opening try against Clermont Auvernge

Ashton crossing for Saracen's first try. It was the winger's 37th score in Europe, putting him at the top of the list of all players in history.

Turning point

The obvious one, Goode's try which took the game away from Clermont who, until then, had looked capable of pulling the rug from under Mark McCall's men at any point.

Tweet of the match