In an intense and thrilling match on Tuesday, Chelsea FC successfully came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and advance to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. The German team had a slight advantage coming into the second leg of the tie, having beaten Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg three weeks ago. However, Chelsea produced a stunning performance and sealed their place in the next round of the competition.
The game started with a setback for the visitors as Julian Brandt was forced to leave the pitch due to an injury within the first four minutes of the match. The German winger, who had scored nine goals in 31 appearances this season, limped off with a left hamstring injury, and USMNT midfielder Giovanni Reyna replaced him as the early substitute.
Chelsea had a strong start and had a few chances to score in the opening half, with Kai Havertz hitting the post twice. The first one came in the 28th minute when the German international struck a shot inside the box that hit the woodwork, ran across the goal, and went out for a goal kick. Havertz got another opportunity to level the scoreline on aggregate ten minutes later when he put the ball into the back of the net, but Raheem Sterling was ruled offside in the build-up.
However, Sterling found the breakthrough only minutes before halftime when he scored a powerful right-footed shot into the roof of the net after initially missing the ball. The goal was significant for Chelsea, as it was the first time they had scored in consecutive games in almost two months.
The Blues started the second half with a bang, earning a penalty just three minutes in. Ben Chilwell attempted a cross into the box, but the ball hit Dortmund defender Marius Wolf’s outstretched arm. The match referee, Dany Makkelie, initially waved off the penalty claims, but the decision was overturned after a VAR intervention. Havertz stepped up to take the spot-kick and hit the post again, but he got another chance as a Dortmund player encroached on the penalty area before Havertz made contact with the ball. The German made no mistake the second time around and put the ball into the net to double Chelsea’s lead.
The penalty ended up being the final goal of the match, and Chelsea secured a well-deserved victory over the German giants. Dortmund’s defeat not only ended their 11-game winning streak but also knocked them out of the Champions League. On the other hand, Chelsea qualified for the quarterfinals of the competition and recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since October.
Overall, it was an impressive and dominant performance by Chelsea, who proved once again that they are a force to be reckoned with in European football. The Blues will now look forward to the next round of the Champions League and hope to continue their winning form.
