Borussia Dortmund punched a ticket to the UEFA Champions League Final after advancing past PSG on Tuesday. Following the side’s 1-0 win in Germany, a draw would have been good enough to reach the final at Wembley on June 1. Yet, Mats Hummels’ second-half goal gave Dortmund a pivotal lead that it sat on for the rest of the game.
PSG hit the post or crossbar four times on the night to make it six times in the semifinals. That was perhaps the difference as PSG failed to score in either leg. Kylian Mbappe, in all likelihood, ends his PSG career in Europe with no more than a trip to the Final in 2020. Instead, it is Dortmund who goes to Wembley. It will be a chance for redemption for Marco Reus in his last game for Borussia Dortmund, where he lost the Champions League Final in 2013.
BVB’s defense holds PSG without a goal in the semifinals
The first half lived up to the expectations for Borussia Dortmund. Edin Terzic’s instructions were clear: Defend the lead, and hit PSG on the counter when the time arises. PSG was devoid of any strong chances in the first 45 minutes. Kylian Mbappe had some mazy runs. Neither he nor his PSG teammates did enough. Each shot was either wide or tame enough to be a comfortable save for Gregor Kobel.
The best chance of the first 45 came to Dortmund. A long run starting in the Dortmund half from Karim Adeyemi eventually spilled into the box. Adeyemi, pressured by two PSG defenders, got a strong shot away. Gianluigi Donnarumma got a strong left hand on the ball to deny the attempt. In doing so, he kept PSG’s deficit at one.
To start the second half, PSG came out inspired. Within the first two minutes, PSG struck the woodwork. After a cross from Kylian Mbappe on the left side, the ball popped out to Warren Zaire-Emery. The teenager took the shot first time on the volley from inside the six-yard box. From a tight angle, the Frenchman clanged the ball off the post, and the ball deflected back off him and out for a…
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Author : Kyle Fansler
Publish date : 2024-05-07 21:30:03
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