Fil-Austrian David Alaba eyes UEFA crown


David Alaba
Bayern Munich defender David Alaba scores an own goal despite an effort by his teammate Manuel Neuer, right, to deflect the ball during their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona in Lisbon, Portugal. (EPA)

David Alaba got a shot at winning his first UEFA Champions League title in seven years after Bayern Munich advanced to the Final of the European club competition with a 3-0 win over French side Lyon.

The Fil-Austrian defender started as centerback for the Bavarians in Wednesday’s win at Estadio de Luz in Lisbon, Portugal that saw two goals from Serge Gnabry and one from Robert Lewondowski.

Bayern Munich arranged a showdown with French league champion Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s Final, also in the Portuguese capital.

READ: Fil-Austrian David Alaba in Munich team that thumped Messi’s Barcelona XI

PSG defeated German side RB Leipzig in the other semifinal match on Tuesday.

Alaba is hoping to lift the Champions League trophy for the second time.

As a 20-year-old, Alaba was draped with a Philippine flag when Bayern defeated German Bundesliga rival Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Final held at London’s Wembley Stadium.

He is the son of a Nigerian father and a Filipina nurse named Gina. Alaba also has a sister named Rose May, who is a recording artist in Austria.