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IMAGE: Chelsea’s gamers have fun after Raheem Sterling scored the primary purpose in opposition to Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge in London on Tuesday. {Photograph}: Clive Rose/Getty Photographs
Chelsea reached the Champions League quarter-finals as a first-half purpose from Raheem Sterling and a controversial penalty by Kai Havertz overturned a first-leg deficit on Tuesday and propelled them to a 2-1 mixture win over Borussia Dortmund.
Simply as they’d 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 submit in addition to the aspect netting.
Portugal loanee Joao Felix and defender Kalidou Koulibaly additionally went shut and Sterling had efforts blocked.
However within the forty third minute Ben Chilwell crossed into the field and located England crew mate Sterling.
IMAGE: Kai Havertz scores Chelsea’s second purpose from the penalty spot. {Photograph}: Clive Rose/Getty Photographs
Sterling airkicked his first effort, then sidestepped Marco Reus and despatched his second excessive into the web to place the groups stage on mixture.
“It was a large efficiency,” Sterling advised BT Sport. “We needed to dig deep. We took our possibilities. We felt as a crew we may do it.”I had somewhat mis-kick with the primary contact nevertheless it landed completely and allowed us to construct on that for our efficiency.”
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 referred to as to the VAR display.Havertz, taking on as penalty taker from Jorginho who moved to Arsenal in January, hit the keeper’s left-hand submit to the reduction of the guests.
The sport resumed for just a few seconds till VAR alerted Makkelie that Dortmund gamers had encroached into the world.
Havertz retook the kick and despatched the ball the identical manner however this time it squeezed contained in the submit to place Chelsea forward within the tie within the 53rd minute.
“I do not know what I used to be considering (when it hit the submit) however the referee let me retake the penalty,” Havertz mentioned. “I used to be a bit nervous however I scored. I attempted to attend and have a look at the keeper and the second was a bit simpler.”
IMAGE: Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund jumps over Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana as he tries to move the ball. {Photograph}: Clive Rose/Getty Photographs
It was Dortmund’s first defeat following wins of their earlier 10 matches and a lift for Chelsea, who’ve struggled for kind below Graham Potter because the flip of the 12 months, 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 crew acknowledged the cheers.
“There was a unbelievable feeling within the dressing room,” he mentioned. “We have now been by means of a troublesome interval and this competitors means so much for us. We needed to progress and get into the final eight and it units us up for the subsequent 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 will not be for me, so I’m in awe of anyone (who does).”
Sensible Benfica crush Brugge to succeed in final eight
IMAGE: Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring Benfica’s second purpose in opposition to Membership Brugge at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in Lisbon. {Photograph}: Gualter Fatia/Getty Photographs
Scientific Benfica thrashed shell-shocked Membership Brugge 5-1 with two targets from striker Goncalo Ramos to knock the Belgian aspect out of the Champions League and attain the quarter finals 7-1 on mixture on the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday.
Led by a tireless Joao Mario, who netted a late penalty, and the in-form Ramos, Benfica confirmed precisely why they’re seen in Portugal because the nation’s finest aspect since Jose Mourinho’s Porto have been topped European champions 19 years in the past.
“We have now one goal and it is profitable each recreation we play going ahead,” Rafa Silva, who had opened the scoring late within the first half, advised Eleven Sports activities.
Benfica took management from the beginning as they pressured their rivals within the heavy rain that poured down in Lisbon.
Joao Mario had purpose dominated out by VAR within the first minute for an offside within the build-up and Benfica then wasted a number of clear possibilities because the guests appeared properly out of their depth.
Struggling within the Belgian league, Brugge have been coming off an embarrassing 3-0 loss to lowly Oostende on the weekend and are presently languishing fourth within the standings, having now received solely two of their final 15 matches in all competitions.
They have been outclassed by a properly organised Benfica aspect who stay unbeaten on this season’s Champions League and have misplaced solely two aggressive video games this time period, each to Braga and a type of on penalties after a 1-1 draw within the Portuguese Cup.
IMAGE: Benfica’s gamers have fun after David Neres scored the fifth purpose in opposition to Membership Brugge. {Photograph}: Gualter Fatia/Getty Photographs
They’re on a seven-game profitable streak within the Primeira Liga during which they’ve scoring 18 targets and conceded one.
It was solely a matter of time till they took the lead in opposition to Brugge with the purpose coming within the thirty eighth minute by means of Rafa Silva, who dribbled previous two defenders and fired a left foot strike into the web after a counter-attack.
Ramos then scored both aspect of the break, the primary coming after a superb particular person effort during which he dribbled previous three gamers contained in the field earlier than slotting the ball residence.
Within the 57th minute, he prolonged the lead with a first-time shot from Alex Grimaldo’s intelligent low cross.
Joao Mario scored the fourth from the spot within the 71st after a foul by Abakar Sylla and 7 minutes later discovered substitute David Neres who netted the fifth earlier than Bjorn Meijer struck a superb comfort purpose for Brugge three minutes from time.
“Issues are going properly as a result of the crew is working onerous,” added Rafa Silva, whose aspect are high of the Primeira Liga.
“We are going to go recreation by recreation, first take into consideration what’s subsequent within the Portuguese league on the weekend and profitable it. That is what issues now and we’ll take into consideration the (Champions League) quarter finals when the time comes.”
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