Ford announced the first 500 registrations of its new 2015 Mustang were reserved just 30 seconds into the match where Real Madrid CF beat Club Atletico de Madrid 4-1 after extra time.

“We knew there was huge excitement building for the new Ford Mustang coming to Europe, but the response during the UEFA Champions League Final was overwhelming,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. “It was a truly special way to kick off the Ford Mustang era in Europe.”

Ford additionally confirmed that more than 9 300 people registered online for a chance to reserve one of the first 500 new Ford Mustang models. In the next few weeks, the company will contact the customers from each of the 20 allocated countries who were quickest to place their reservation to let them know they have been successful. Each customer will then be invited to complete their order at a dealership later this year.

The 2015 Mustang, scheduled as one of the 15 new vehicles that Ford plans to launch in South Africa by 2017 features the iconic signature shark-bite front fascia with a prominent grille that is flanked by three-dimensional tri-bar taillamps. It is further equipped with a front splitter, aerodynamic side skits and a bulging hood.

The launch of this model will additionally mark 50 years of the iconic pony car’s heritage which according to Ford “has evolved to attract a wider array of customers and expand global market availability.” Since its first launch in 1964, 9 million units have been sold.