Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-04-16 21:21:52
Borussia Dortmund staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Atletico Madrid 4-2 in their quarter-final second leg match on Tuesday, securing a 5-4 aggregate victory and booking a spot in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2013.
After trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Dortmund came out firing with goals from Julian Brandt and Ian Maatsen to go up 2-0 at halftime. Atletico fought back in the second half, with Mats Hummels scoring an own goal and Angel Correa finding the back of the net to put the Spanish side back ahead in the tie. However, Dortmund rallied with goals from Niclas Fuellkrug and Marcel Sabitzer in a three-minute span to secure the win.
Despite their struggles in the Bundesliga and the uncertainty of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, Dortmund will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals for a chance to advance to the final at Wembley on June 1.
The match started with both teams having early chances, with Sabitzer missing a golden opportunity for Dortmund while Alvaro Morata squandered a one-on-one chance for Atletico. Dortmund eventually broke the deadlock with Brandt’s goal after 34 minutes, followed by Maatsen’s goal just five minutes later to put them ahead in the tie.
At halftime, Atletico coach Diego Simeone made strategic changes to try and turn the tide in his team’s favor. The substitutions paid off initially, with Hummels scoring an own goal and Correa adding another goal to give Atletico the lead. However, Dortmund responded swiftly with Fuellkrug and Sabitzer finding the back of the net to seal the win.
The victory was a historic moment for Dortmund, as they overcame a strong Atletico side to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League. The intense atmosphere created by the 80,000 fans at the stadium fueled Dortmund’s determination to secure the win and move one step closer to the final.
Overall, it was a thrilling match filled with twists and turns, but Dortmund’s resilience and determination ultimately saw them through to the next round. The team will now shift their focus to the semi-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain, where they will look to continue their impressive run in the Champions League and secure a spot in the final.
