Chelsea triumphed over Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League quarterfinals Tuesday, because of a first-half objective from Raheem Sterling and a hotly-debated penalty by Kai Havertz, overturning a first-leg deficit and advancing them to the subsequent spherical with an mixture rating of 2-1.
Just as that they had in Germany three weeks in the past when Dortmund received 1-0, 2021 champions Chelsea squandered likelihood after likelihood within the first half, with Germany’s Havertz hitting the publish in addition to the facet netting.
Portugal loanee Joao Felix and defender Kalidou Koulibaly additionally went shut and Sterling had efforts blocked.
But within the forty third minute, Ben Chilwell crossed into the field and located England teammate Sterling.
Sterling air-kicked his first effort, then sidestepped Marco Reus and despatched his second excessive into the web to place the staff’s degree on mixture.
“It was a massive performance,” Sterling informed BT Sport. “We needed to dig deep. We took our possibilities. We felt as a staff we might do it.
“I had a little mis-kick with the first touch but it landed perfectly and allowed us to build on that for our performance.”
Early within the second half, a Chilwell cross smacked into the outstretched hand of defender Marius Wolf and Dutch referee Danny Makkelie gave the penalty after being known as to the VAR display screen.
Havertz, taking up as penalty taker from Jorginho who moved to Arsenal in January, hit the keeper’s left-hand publish to the reduction of the guests.
The recreation resumed for a couple of seconds till VAR alerted Makkelie that Dortmund gamers had encroached into the world.
Havertz retook the kick and despatched the ball the identical method however this time it squeezed contained in the publish to place Chelsea forward within the tie within the 53rd minute.
“I don’t know what I was thinking (when it hit the post) but the referee let me retake the penalty,” Havertz mentioned. “I was a bit nervous, but I scored. I tried to wait and look at the keeper and the second one was a bit easier.”
It was Dortmund’s first defeat following wins of their earlier 10 matches and a lift for Chelsea, who’ve struggled for kind underneath Graham Potter because the flip of the yr, dropping to tenth place within the Premier League and dropping early of their two home cups.
A smiling Potter punched the air and applauded the group as his staff acknowledged the cheers.
“There was a fantastic feeling in the dressing room,” he mentioned. “We have been through a tough period and this competition means a lot to us. We wanted to progress and get into the last eight and it sets us up for the next few weeks.”
He mentioned he had confidence in Havertz to attain however was too nervous to look at.
“I wasn’t watching it however delighted after I heard the roar.
“Taking penalties is not for me, so I am in awe of anybody (who does).”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
