Dortmund see off Eindhoven to advance into UEFA Champions League quarterfinal

BERLIN — Goals from Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus helped Borrusia Dortmund advance into the quarterfinals after securing a 2-1 (3-1 on aggregate) victory over PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Dortmund made an immediate impact, with Jadon Sancho finding the net from 18 meters to give his team an early lead. Despite gaining momentum, Dortmund missed further opportunities to extend their lead, with Niclas Fullkrug and Donyell Malen being denied by Eindhoven’s goalkeeper Walter Benitez, reported Xinhua.

Eindhoven had a hard time gaining a foothold into the clash and created the only noteworthy opportunity through Johan Bakayoko, who tested Benitez from the edge of the box at the half-hour mark.

After the restart, Eindhoven increased the pressure, as Hirving Lozano’s long-range effort rattled the woodwork in the 53rd minute before Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel defused Jordan Teze’s attempt three minutes later.

The Dutch visitors gained the upper hand but lacked precision in the final third as Lozano and Bakayoko wasted promising chances.

The hosts thought they had doubled the lead out of the blue in the 78th minute when Fullkrug’s header following a free kick was ruled offside by the video assistant referee.

Eindhoven remained on the front foot but neither Teze nor Luuk de Jong was able to finish off promising opportunities in the closing stages.

The decisive moment came when Marco Reus, coming off the bench, secured Dortmund’s victory and progression by tapping in Fullkrug’s assist.

“It was our aim to advance into the next round. If we look at both games, we deservedly advanced into the next round. We took the early lead but missed to add more goals to our lead,” said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic.

“We started other than well into the clash. After the half-hour mark, we took over but failed to make the most of our chances. We lacked in precision in the final third,” commented Eindhoven coach Peter Bosz.

Memphis and Oblak the heroes as Atletico book Champions League quarterfinal spot

MADRID — Striker Memphis Depay and goalkeeper Jan Oblak were the heroes as Atletico Madrid qualified for the quarterfinals of the Champions League after beating Inter Milan in a penalty shootout.

Memphis scored the 87th minute goal to give Atletico a 2-1 win on the night and take the tie to extra time and penalties after Inter’s 1-0 first leg win, while Oblak made two saves in the shoot-out to see his team through.

Atletico welcomed Antoine Griezmann back into their side after three weeks out with an ankle injury for a game that kicked off in front of a packed Metropolitano Stadium.

Cheered on by a fervent home crowd, Atletico started aggressively, looking to take the game to and Inter Milan side that had won their last 13 matches.

Inter looked composed at the back despite the pressure and almost took the lead after 15 minutes when Denzel Dumfries surged forward on a break, forcing Oblak to save twice from a tight angle.

Alvaro Morata had Atletico’s first chance with a downward header from Mario Hermoso’s cross that Yann Sommer got down well to save, reported Xinhua.

Inter opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after a swift break that ended with Nicolo Barella latching onto Alessandro Bastoni’s ball down the left and pulling it back for Federico Dimarco to side-foot past Oblak.

Inter’s lead lasted just two minutes when Griezmann took advantage of some uncharacteristically chaotic defending to turn and score from Koke’s lob into the box after Inter failed to clear a ball from the right.

The goal gave Atletico a huge boost and only a brave block by Sommer denied Griezmann his second of the night.

Atletico started seeing the second half with Griezmann again frustrated by Sommer, who got down to his left to block the striker’s first time shot after good work by Marcos Llorente.

Once again Inter started to look comfortable and with 20 minutes left, Simeone looked to live things up by replacing Samuel Lino and Rodrigo de Paul with Angel Correa and Rodrigo Riquelme.

Marcus Thuram wasted a great chance to seal it for Inter in the 75th minute when Lautaro Martinez slipped him through with a perfect pass, but with just Oblak to beat Thuram blazed well over the bar.

Memphis came on for Atletico and twice went close before stealing a yard on his marker in the 87th minute and drilling a low shot in at the post to force extra time, although Riquelme could have sealed it in the 93rd minute, only to shoot over with the goal at his mercy.

Thuram wasted another chance, heading over in extra time, before Sommer saved well from the impressive Memhis, but the tie was destined to be decided by penalties.