Manchester City way too strong: Can’s hand destroys Dortmund’s “world sensation”

Wednesday April 14, 2021

Manchester City way too strong
Can’s hand destroys Dortmund’s “world sensation”

In the initial phase, it looks like Borussia Dortmund could still reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. A momentous mistake and a long-range shot put Manchester City back in the lead. It’s a long-awaited premiere for the English.

Not a black and yellow miracle, but a worthy farewell: Borussia Dortmund wistfully says goodbye to the Champions League. Despite a courageous performance, the German runner-up also lost the quarter-final second leg against the Manchester City team with 1: 2 (1: 0) and missed his first semi-final in the premier class since 2013. In the league, BVB has to have a grandiose to qualify again Start catching up.

“We can be proud of ourselves, we played against the best team in the world and we were able to keep up,” said Dortmund’s unlucky Emre Can on Sky: “But it’s still painful because we had the chance to advance.”

The phenomenal super talent Jude Bellingham (15th) made Dortmund hope for the “world sensation” (Hans-Joachim Watzke) after the 1: 2 in the first leg with his first European Cup goal. BVB withstood the subsequent storm of the city pass machine until Riyad Mahrez (54th, hand penalty) benefited from a faux pas Emre Cans. He wanted his head to the ball, but hit him only lightly with his skull, but especially with his upper arm. Phil Foden (75th) eliminated last doubts: City calls in the semi-final fight of the giants the Bayern conqueror Paris St. Germain.

There was a big bang the night before the game. English media reported fireworks and gunfire in front of the Citizens Hotel at different times. The remains of launch batteries could be seen in photos. The Dortmund fire brigade confirmed an operation because of a fire light in the outdoor area.

Only at the beginning was there a lack of explosiveness on the pitch. BVB coach Edin Terzic had conjured up an “unbelievable performance for an unbelievable story”, but the black and yellow struggled against the favorites. City stood enormously high and pressed, sometimes the Dortmund build-up began on their own five-meter space. After the first liberation, however, BVB midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud checked the opposing goalkeeper Ederson (7th) for the first time.

No relief at all

With the ball in possession of the outstanding guest midfield, raised by İlkay Gündoğan and Kevin De Bruyne, BVB dropped 4-5-1. Only ten meters behind the center line did Erling Haaland run up against the opponent in the front row, after winning the ball there was the possibility of long shots on Haaland or the lightning-fast outside Ansgar Knauff.

Haaland took one of these long balls skillfully, put it down – and the young Englishman Bellingham scored well from the start. BVB was virtually next. City reacted angrily and pushed, but De Bruyne failed after a mistake by Mateu Morey on the crossbar (25th). Bellingham cleared a shot from Mahrez in dire need and cheered it loudly (32nd). Relief for the hosts? There wasn’t any more.

Not even in the second half, in which City constricted BVB over long stretches. Can the ball slipped awkwardly to the arm after a cross over the top of the head, Mahrez converted safely. BVB needed at least one goal again, which they really tried hard to achieve – but there were no big chances. The dominance of the guests was too great, the Guardiola-Elf too safe on the ball.

Instead, City met again. With the 1: 2 by super talent Phil Foden, 20 years old and already a goal scorer in the first leg at the last minute, the decision was made. City will play the semi-finals against PSG on April 27 and May 4, respectively.