Jadon Sancho was the star of the show as Borussia Dortmund beat PSG 1-0 in a thrilling Champions League semi-final first leg thanks to Niclas Fullkrug’s delightful goal.
The England winger, who was sent off from parent club Man Utd, gave Nuno Mendes a gripping moment at the Westfalenstadion and could have easily completed an assist hat-trick if his teammates had put on their shooting boots.
Instead, only Fullkrug’s first-half shot found the back of the net, with the German striker firing just wide of the post after a beautiful ball over the right from Nico Schlotterbeck.
Dortmund dominated the opening era and deserved their win, but their lead was held by a razor-thin margin as Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi were rejected in both positions on the same play before Fabian Ruiz headed for a golden opportunity.
Sancho set up Fullkrug for an undeniable finish to the goal soon after, but the striker created an undeniable chance over the crossbar, before the Man Utd loanee made an excellent one-two with Julian Brandt, whose poor touch denied him any other significant goals. opportunity.
Dortmund will face them in France in six days’ time given the quality of the Ligue 1 champions, but Edin Terzic’s unloved side have taken a step on their improbable road to the final, and now they know that even a draw in Paris would be enough to see them there.
Much of the game, in a deafening Westfalenstadion, played out like a basketball game, with PSG coach Luis Enrique’s prediction that there would be “fireworks” on the hunt if it came true.
But in the first half, the sparks only headed towards Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal, when Marcel Sabitzer was first turned away from the corner after clever preparation through Sancho and Brandt.
Sancho’s back gave a hand to Brandt, who showed up shortly after, and Marquinhos felt the full force of his shot before Dortmund attacked on the third demand.
Fullkrug’s perfectly timed run was discovered through a brilliant ball from Schlotterbeck backwards and after a fine throw-in that took him away from Lucas Hernandez, a shrill shot was enough to beat Donnarumma near the post.
The goalkeeper was luckier thanks to Sabizer’s effort before the break, with a deft sending off from Fullkrug who came out into midfield and gave the massive goalkeeper too many chances to prevent his shot.
PSG had yet to get a shot on target, but finally did so two minutes into the second half when Bradley Barcola fired a shot from 25 yards straight at Gregor Kobel, moments before the French giants came even closer.
Mbappé intervened down the left and left Kobel helpless with a curving shot into the corner, which bounced off the post and went wide to safety. Still, it only caught up to Hakimi, whose own shot hit the base of the goal frame earlier as well. Away.
The chances continued to come for PSG as Fabian was discovered through a beautiful deep cross from the right and timed his run perfectly to respond, but he went far from the open goal from 8 yards.
Brandt wasted less when he saw a tricky opportunity presenting itself, but Fullkrug had no excuse to sign up for the poached team when it burst into flames after Sancho’s perfect paints on the flank.
A clever save from Kobel denied Ousmane Dembele before Fullkrug lifted a header over the bar, before the former copied the latter with a shot that was well placed after leaning too far back.
Sancho was denied a hand in the goal due to his fluid movement with Brandt Ted when the German denied through a Marquinhos block, before Fabian added to his developing list of personal failures with someone else in an attractive delivery from Vitinha.
In the end, Dortmund pulled off a 1-0 win that may have only seen a few more goals, but in any case, it still gives them an invaluable win to take home in Paris in the second leg.
Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho CBS Sports:
“This is not over, we have to move on to Paris and do our homework there. I’m taking it game by game and I hope they can continue. “
“I came here when I was 17 years old, they gave me the opportunity to play football. I’m very happy with all the players and staff who took me in. I give it my all here.
On whether he can stay permanently at Dortmund: “I don’t know, at the moment I’m just focused on the offer. “
Luis Enrique, PSG coach:
“We have nothing to lose. Whatever the result, we would have gone to win. There is an exceptional atmosphere between the two groups and in Paris we will have the support of our fans.
“Our goal is to exert pressure. We tried to protect their right side and protect their long balls. It’s a very well-worked team.
“In the first half we were a little less intense in attack, at this point it was completely different. “
Edin Terzic, Borussia Dortmund coach:
“It’s a well-deserved win, a smart performance from the team.
“We may have scored more goals, but so have they. That’s why, from my point of view, the result is smart. We ran a lot, but that’s in a game like this. You have to earn your position at Wembley.
“All we want now is a draw in the second leg, but we also want to win next week. We have a small advantage and a chance. “
Peter Smith of Sky Sports:
“Jadon Sancho is back!
“The winger is back to his best form in Germany after his long absence at Man Utd, but after his goal against Leipzig at the weekend, his performance against PSG showed that he is back to the exciting levels of his first spell at Dortmund.
“There were no assists, but he couldn’t have done much more, sending off Fullkrug and Brandt on massive opportunities they failed to take advantage of.
“But it’s his mastery of the ball at his feet, his speed and his confidence in not being outplayed that indicated that the Sancho of yesteryear was making a comeback.
“As for PSG full-back Nuno Mendes, he spent a torrid night looking to get him involved and will appreciate the rematch in Paris. “
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