UCL: Chelsea Fall At Dortmund, Benfica Secure Vital Win In Last-16 Tie
Borussia Dortmund pipped a wasteful Chelsea side with a 1-0 win in the Champions League last-16 first leg tie.
Karim Adeyemi’s breathtaking solo goal made the difference in front of the colourful crowd at the Signal Iduna Stadium.
Dortmund were brilliant and then they weren’t until the 63rd minute when the 21-year-old German-Nigeria broke loose from his own half as Enzo Fernandez watched on up until he rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga and slotted the ball into an empty net.
Chelsea created clear-cut opportunities but lacked conviction in the final-third, a theme that run through the entire game — Joao Felix headed wide before hitting the woodwork while Reece James forced a brilliant save out of Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel in the second half.
For a team that spent hugely in the January transfer window without signing an out-and-out striker, even more strange, opting not to register their only striker in the mix, Aubameyang, it was not surprising that they simply could not get the ball at the back of the net.
Nonetheless they still pushed for the leveller with Kalidou Koulibaly coming close but for Emre Can’s goal-line clearance.
Graham Potter and his charges now have the uphill task of overturning the tie in the reverse leg at the Stamford Bridge on March 7th in order to progress to the next stage of competition.
Elsewhere at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium, Benfica secured a vital last-16 2-0 win over debutants Club Brugge.
Joao Mario scored from the penalty spot after the restart before David Neres doubled the lead in the dying embers to ensure they were safe.
Dennis Odoi had his goal disallowed for offside before the interval but they largely failed to trouble the visitors.
The result put Benfica’s one foot in the Champions League quarter-final ahead of the return leg in Portugal.
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