DHAKA: Gareth Bale`s stunning individual goal five minutes from time won the Copa del Rey final for Real Madrid at the expense of arch-rivals Barcelona.

The Wales forward outsprinted Barca defender Marc Bartra from the halfway line before coolly converting past keeper Jose Manuel Pinto.

 Real took an early lead when Angel Di Maria fired into the bottom corner.

Barca levelled through Bartra`s second-half header but it was Real celebrating after Bale`s winner.

Former Tottenham star Bale had been accused of not delivering in Madrid`s big matches since arriving at the Bernabeu in a world record £85m switch last summer.

But, without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo alongside him, the 24-year-old took centre stage with a moment of inspiration which swung a delicately-balanced final in favour of Carlo Ancelotti`s side at a crucial stage.

With Barcelona pressing for a winner, Real countered quickly with pace - a tactic which they had employed throughout - to snatch the first silverware of the Spanish season.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, a largely anonymous figure, lost possession in the Madrid penalty area before Fabio Coentrao launched the attack with a long ball down the left touchline towards Bale.

Source: BBC
BDST: 0913 HRS, APR 17, 2014