Mbappe scores as PSG cruise to Champions League semifinal

BARCELONA — Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the UEFA Champions League semifinal after a thrilling 4-1 second-leg win (6-4 on aggregate) over FC Barcelona on Tuesday night at Estadi Olompic Lluis Companys.

PSG recovered from a home defeat and falling two goals behind as Mbappe converted a penalty and struck a late clincher to seal their place in semifinals with a 4-1 second-leg victory.

The Parisians got off to a challenging start, conceding the first goal of the match after Raphinha scored in the 12th minute to make it 1-0 and 4-2 on aggregate. Ronald Araujo handed Luis Enrique and his team a lifeline midway through the first half.

Araujo received a straight red card, leaving Barcelona with ten men for most of the match. PSG would take advantage of the situation with Ousmane Dembele scoring in the 40th minute to level the game 1-1, making it 4-3 on aggregate, Ligue 1 reports.

In the second half, PSG took advantage of playing with an extra man to turn the tie on its head. Vitinha scored in the 54th minute to level the scoring on aggregate at 4-4 as the Ligue 1 side took a 2-1 lead in the match.

Dembele again haunted his former team as the 26-year-old won a penalty kick for the Parisians. Mbappe converted the chance in the 64th minute to give PSG a 3-1 lead in the contest and a 5-4 advantage on aggregate.

Dortmund stuns Atletico in dramatic Champions League quarters

BERLIN — Borussia Dortmund turned around a 2-1 first-leg defeat by clinching a hard-earned 4-2 victory over resilient Atletico Madrid in the second leg on home soil.

Dortmund advanced 5-4 on aggregate into the Champions League semifinals.

BVB immediately went in search of the goal and came close with just three minutes gone when Marcel Sabitzer’s shot from inside the box was blocked by defender Cesar Azpilicueta in the last nick of time, reports Xinhua.

Two minutes later, Atletico had the golden chance to extend the aggregate lead, but Alvaro Morata pulled wide with only Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to beat.

Dortmund controlled possession though and got rewarded for their efforts at the half-hour mark when Mats Hummel’s defence-splitting through the ball allowed Julian Brandt to fire past Madrid custodian Jan Oblak from a tight angle.

The hosts gained momentum and doubled the lead in the 39th minute as Sabizter teed up for Ian Maatsen, who slotted home from a sharp angle into the far post bottom corner.

After the restart, Los Colchoneros came out with their guns blazing and restored parity on aggregate with the great assistance of Dortmund veteran Mats Hummels, who accidentally cleared Mario Hermoso’s dangerous header into the wrong goal.

Things went from bad to worse for Dortmund as Atletico increased the pressure before retaking the aggregate lead with 69 minutes gone as Dortmund’s defense couldn’t clear the ball from the area, allowing Angel Correa to hammer the ball into the roof of the net, making it 2-2 on the scoreboards.

Dortmund was flabbergasted but bounced back with two goals in quick succession. First, Niclas Fullkrug made it 3-2 on the scoreboards in the 71st minute after heading home Sabitzer’s pinpoint cross before the Austrian international got his name on the scoreboards as well after unleashing a hammer past Oblak two minutes later.

Atletico opened up and pressed frenetically for a goal, but Dortmund’s defense stood firm to claim the team’s first semi-final since 2013. The BVB will encounter Paris Saint-Germain in the next round.

“I am really happy and proud of the boys. We were the better and more active team today. That is why we deserved to advance into the next round,” said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic.

“We had the chance to draw the game and go ahead in the tie but, when you don’t take advantage of your chances, this happens, even more so in the Champions League,” commented Atletico captain Koke.