Sheriff Tiraspol said they had not been overawed on their first trip to the mighty Real Madrid - and proved it by winning 2-1 one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history.
With all the talk of a European Super League for the elite, the minnows from the Moldovan league gave a timely reminder of the appeal of open competition.
"We came here to win," said captain Frank Castaneda. "We know how good our players are and luckily for us Madrid weren't able to take their chances - and we took ours."
This was only the second match in the Champions League group stage for Sheriff, whose estimated value of their entire squad is 12 million euros (HK$108.95 million), about the same as the annual salary of Madrid defender David Alaba.
Real dominated but Sheriff scored two excellent goals and had a third disallowed for offside. They now have six points out of six to go top of Group D.
Sebastien Thill smashed in the winner in the 89th minute after Karim Benzema's 65th-minute penalty had canceled out Jasurbek Yakhshiboev's first-half header for the visitors.
"It's the best and most important goal of my career," Thill said. "The side were so brave with how we played and luckily I was able to score a bit of a stunner."
Real president Florentino Perez has said he struggles to get interested in the group-stage games and he might have wished he had missed this one. Perez is one of the staunchest advocates of the aborted Super League, but Sheriff reminded everyone that it's not just about the perceived big boys.
The Super League was intended to put an end to seemingly unbalanced match-ups like these - and the occasional shock that comes with them - leaving a competition only for a self-selected elite.
The romance of Sheriff's success is questionable given the club is owned by a conglomerate, called Sheriff, which effectively runs the pro-Russian separatist state of Transnistria, where the club is based.
Yet it is hard to begrudge players like Thill their moment of glory. "We are dreaming of getting into the last 16," said Castaneda. "We'll work hard in order to ensure we keep getting positive results."
For Real Madrid, the path to the last 16 is still open, especially after Italian Serie A champions Inter Milan were held to a goalless draw at Shakhtar Donetsk.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Real Madrid players look dejected as Sheriff's Sebastien Thill celebrates scoring the winning goal with teammates. 'Keeper Giorgos Athanasiadis savors the win. REUTERS, AP
