Dortmund 2-0 PSV (agg: 3-1): Sancho and Reus clinch quarter-final spot
Dortmund #Dortmund
Dortmund got the better of PSV Eindhoven in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 decider as Jadon Sancho’s early strike and Marco Reus’ late finish sent the German side through despite a string of chances for the visitors.
Key moments
2′: Benítez tips Maatsen strike over3′: Sancho strike puts hosts ahead16′: Brandt, Malen denied by PSV No153′: Thunderous Lozano effort hits post90+4′: De Jong sends chance clear of bar90+5′: Reus produces composed finish
Match in brief: Dortmund survive nervy finish Jadon Sancho strikes low for his first goal in this season’s competitionAFP via Getty Images
Having scored at the weekend to notch his first goal since his return to Dortmund, Jadon Sancho did not wait long to add to his tally. With less than three minutes gone, the on-loan Manchester United forward capped the hosts’ early dominance by turning to curl a low shot beyond Walter Benítez.
That put Edin Terzić’s side ahead in the tie, and they bristled with confidence for much of the rest of the first half, until PSV began to look more threatening as half-time approached. The Eredivisie leaders then made a change at the break, introducing Hirving Lozano for a critical 45 minutes in their European season.
The Mexico winger made a near-immediate impact, thudding a venomous shot from distance against a post as the Dutch side, who had scored in their previous six Champions League matches this season, looked emboldened in their attempts to exploit their opponents’ deep back line.
For all their momentum, however, PSV were worrying Gregor Kobel’s defenders more than the goalkeeper himself – until Johan Bakayoko took matters into his own hands, turning smartly to fashion space deep inside the penalty area and lash in an effort which Kobel beat around his near post with a fine reflex stop.
The chances kept coming for Peter Bosz’s team, who went close again as Jordan Teze fired a half-volley wide, before Luuk de Jong lifted a close-range finish over the crossbar in added time.
Seconds later, substitute Marco Reus broke clear and slotted in the second, sealing Dortmund’s place in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2020/21.
As it happened: Dortmund 2-0 PSV (3-1 agg)PlayStation® Player of the Match: Jadon Sancho (Dortmund) Jadon Sancho shows off his awardUEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
“He started the game very well, created one-on-one situations and scored with a great shot from outside the penalty area.”UEFA Technical Observer panel
Matthias Rötters, Dortmund reporter
What a finale to this game. At first, BVB seemed to overrun the visitors. In the end, all the players in black and yellow had to tremble and shiver as they came under intense pressure. And when the tension was almost unbearable, club icon Marco Reus, of all people, was granted the final goal in this great match. Only football writes these stories!
Derek Brookman, PSV reporter
After that whirlwind start and an early goal from Dortmund, it seemed very unlikely – bordering on the impossible – that nobody would find the net again until deep into stoppage time. The result was slightly cruel on Bosz’s side, especially after a fine second-half showing, but like so many other teams before them, they learned that failing to take your chances at this level is often fatal.
Reaction PSV pushed admirably but could not find a way throughAFP via Getty Images
Edin Terzić, Dortmund coach: To follow
Peter Bosz, PSV coach: To follow
Owen Hargreaves, TNT Sports
“It wasn’t vintage from Dortmund, but they find themselves in the last eight. You’ve just got to get the job done – they dominated the first half, PSV dominated the second.”
Delight for Dortmund after an occasionally nervy second-leg winAFP via Getty ImagesKey stats
Fantasy star performers
To follow
Line-ups
Dortmund: Kobel; Emre Can, Süle, Hummels, Maatsen; Salih Özcan, Sabitzer; Brandt (Nmecha 58); Malen (Adeyemi 70), Sancho (Reus 75); Füllkrug
PSV: Benítez; Teze, Schouten, Boscagli, Dest; Til (Lozano 46), Mauro Júnior (Babadi 86), Veerman (Pepi 82); Bakayoko, De Jong, Tillman
What’s next?
Dortmund enter the quarter-final and semi-final draws on 15 March. The quarter-final ties take place on 9/10 and 16/17 April.