Dortmund end ‘rollercoaster’ day in Champions League semis

Marcel Sabitzer scored late and arrange two targets to ship Borussia Dortmund into the Champions League semifinals with a helter-skelter 4-2 win over Atlético Madrid on Tuesday.

After dropping the primary leg of their quarterfinal 2-1 in Madrid, Dortmund needed to come from behind twice over two legs to advance 5-4 on mixture.

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Julian Brandt opened the scoring to stage the tie earlier than Sabitzer arrange Ian Maatsen to present Dortmund a 2-0 lead on the evening.

Atlético coach Diego Simeone responded with three adjustments on the break and so they all paid off. A Mats Hummels personal aim and aim from substitute Joaquín Correa put the Spanish aspect again in entrance on mixture.

Then Sabitzer arrange Niclas Füllkrug within the 71st minute for the Germany ahead’s first aim after 9 scoreless video games, and Sabitzer scored himself three minutes later to ship Dortmund into the final 4.

“That was a rollercoaster, a very nice night,” Dortmund chief govt Hans-Joachim Watzke mentioned. “It isn’t all the time like that for Borussia Dortmund. The final time we have been within the semifinals was in 2013. This can be a nice day for all Borussen.”

Dortmund will face Paris Saint-Germain once more within the semifinals. PSG progressed to the ultimate 4 with a 4-1 win at Barcelona. And Dortmund coach Edin Terzic feels his aspect, who gained the Champions League in 1997, at the moment are higher ready to face the French champions, after the Germans misplaced away and drew at residence within the group stage.

“Our first recreation in opposition to them wasn’t good. Within the second recreation, we adjusted to them higher and have been nearer to victory. I feel we’re a greater workforce at this time than we have been in opposition to them within the group stage,” Terzic mentioned following the win over Atletico.

The ultimate might be performed June 1 in London, the place Dortmund misplaced the 2013 ultimate 2-1 to bitter rival Bayern Munich.

Tuesday’s win stretched Dortmund’s unbeaten run at residence within the Champions League to 10 video games.

“We have been near tying the sport, however they have been superior, and when a workforce is superior they need to be congratulated,” Simeone mentioned.

Atlético wanted goalkeeper Jan Oblak at his greatest. He denied Brandt, then Karim Adeyemi, earlier than Brandt lastly made the breakthrough within the thirty fourth, firing a robust shot in off Oblak’s leg from a troublesome angle after eluding former teammate Axel Witsel.

Sabitzer then mixed with Maatsen, who surged previous two defenders and fired the ball contained in the far submit within the thirty ninth. It was the Dutch defender’s first Champions League aim.

However Atlético solely wanted 4 minutes after the break to stage the tie when Hummels’ tried clearance of Mario Hermoso’s header led to his personal web.

Correa ought to have scored shortly afterward when he nudged the ball vast. Simeone – dressed sharply in a black go well with – flopped to the bottom in frustration.

Correa made no mistake within the sixty fourth when he fired in a rebound after his first try was blocked.

It put the guests again in entrance, however Sabitzer was concerned in each targets as Dortmund struck twice in three minutes to ship the house followers wild.

“It was a loopy recreation for the followers and for us. An ideal recreation for us, for our followers and for all soccer followers world wide,” Brandt mentioned after receiving his man-of-the-match award.

“It may be very critical now in opposition to Paris. We performed effectively in opposition to them at residence within the group stage, however not effectively away. We wish to do higher now and, in fact, attain the ultimate.”

For striker Niclas Fullkrug, who additionally received on the scoresheet, the Champions League semifinals might be a brand new expertise.

“I’ve by no means performed at this stage earlier than and I am very proud to be within the semifinals of the Champions League with my workforce,” Fullkrug mentioned. “Issues will definitely be completely different in opposition to Paris than within the group stage.”

Info from Reuters and The Related Press was used on this story.