Chelsea complete comeback over Dortmund in UCL

Chelsea beat Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. The Germans entered the night with an advantage in the tie. The Bundesliga club previously beat Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg three weeks ago. Nevertheless, the Blues advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.

The visitors suffered a fairly significant blow early in the match on Tuesday. Julian Brandt had to be substituted inside the first four minutes of the game because of an injury. The German winger has had a solid season so far with nine goals in 31 goals. Brandt limped off of the pitch holding his left hamstring while the traveling fans filled Stamford Bridge with yellow smoke. USMNT midfielder Giovanni Reyna would enter the fray as the early substitute.

Kai Havertz nearly put Chelsea ahead twice in the opening half. Despite not making great contact on the ball, the Germany international hit the post with a shot inside the box in the 28th minute. The ball struck the woodwork, ran across goal, and went out for a goal kick. Two more inches to the left and Havertz levels the scoreline on aggregate. He then put the ball into the back of the net 10 minutes later, but Raheem Sterling was ruled to be offside in the build up.

Sterling finds breakthrough before halftime

Nevertheless, Sterling would put the hosts ahead in the match only minutes from halftime. The England international initially whiffed on the ball while attempting a shot at the top of the box. However, the ball bounced back to the winger and Sterling emphatically struck a powerful right-footed shot into the roof of the net. It was the first time that the Blues scored in consecutive games in nearly two months.

Chelsea were then awarded a penalty just three minutes into the second half. Ben Chilwell attempted a cross into the area, but the ball struck Dortmund defender Marius Wolf’s outstretch arm. Match referee Dany Makkelie initially waved off the penalty claims; however, the spot kick was given after a VAR intervention.

Havertz puts Chelsea up on Dortmund in Champions League tie

Havertz would hit the post once again on the shot. Makkelie gave Chelsea another go at the spot kick because a Dortmund player encroached on the penalty area before Havertz made contact with the ball. The German wouldn’t make a second mistake and he put the ball into the net to double Chelsea’s lead.

The penalty would end up being the final goal of the match. Dortmund’s defeat not only ends their 11-game winning streak, but it also knocks them out of the Champions League. Chelsea, on the other hand, qualified for the quarterfinals of the competition. The Blues also recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since October.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Plus