Borussia Dortmund 1-0 PSG: Jadon Sancho stars as Niclas Fullkrug goal gives Dortmund lead in Champions League semi-final tie | Football News

Match report as Borussia Dortmund take a 1-0 lead to Paris in their Champions League semi-final after Niclas Fullkrug’s first-half goal is sufficient to seal a first-leg victory; Kylian Mbappe, Achraf Hakimi each hit woodwork for PSG whereas Fullkrug missed massive probability to double lead

Jadon Sancho was the star of the present as Borussia Dortmund edged PSG 1-0 in a pulsating Champions League semi-final first leg by Niclas Fullkrug’s effective winner.

The England winger, forged out at guardian membership Man Utd, gave Nuno Mendes a torrid time all through on the Westfalenstadion and will simply have had a hat-trick of assists had his team-mates had their capturing boots on.

Instead, it was solely Fullkrug’s first-half thunderbolt which discovered the again of the online, the Germany striker firing in on the close to publish after a effective ball excessive from Nico Schlotterbeck.

Dortmund dominated the opening interval and deserved their win, however their lead remained solely by the narrowest of margins as Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi have been denied by both publish in the identical transfer, earlier than Fabian Ruiz headed a golden probability broad.

Sancho teed up Fullkrug for an easier end than his goal quickly after however the striker spooned a easy probability over the bar, earlier than the Man Utd loanee performed a effective one-two with Julian Brandt whose poor contact denied him one other vital alternative.

Dortmund will nonetheless be up in opposition to it in France in six days’ time given the Ligue 1 champions’ high quality, however Edin Terzic’s unfancied aspect have taken one other step on their unlikely path to the ultimate – and now know even a draw in Paris could be sufficient to see them there.

How Dortmund notched deserved first-leg victory

Much of the sport at a sometimes deafening Westfalenstadion was performed like a basketball match, with PSG boss Luis Enrique’s prediction of ‘fireworks’ trying prone to come true.

But for the primary half, the sparks have been solely flying in direction of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal, with Marcel Sabitzer first denied on the angle after effective build-up from Sancho and Brandt.

Sancho turned supplier once more for Brandt who had a go himself quickly after, with Marquinhos feeling the complete pressure of his shot earlier than Dortmund struck on the third time of asking.

Fullkrug’s perfectly-timed run was discovered by Schlotterbeck’s good ball in behind and after a effective contact took him away from Lucas Hernandez, a rasping drive was sufficient to beat Donnarumma at his close to publish.

The goalkeeper was given extra of an opportunity from one other Sabitzer effort earlier than the break, with Fullkrug’s deft lay-off teeing up the midfielder who gave the large ‘keeper an excessive amount of alternative to maintain out his effort.

PSG had but to register a shot on the right track however lastly did so two minutes into the second interval as Bradley Barcola curled a 25-yard strike straight at Gregor Kobel, moments earlier than the French giants went even nearer.

Mbappe lower in from the left and left Kobel helpless with a curling shot in direction of the far nook, which rebounded off the publish and solely simply away to security. Even nonetheless, it nonetheless solely reached Hakimi, whose personal effort smacked the bottom of the goalframe earlier than additionally squirming away.

The possibilities saved coming for PSG as Fabian was discovered by a good looking deep cross from the appropriate and timed his run to perfection to satisfy it, however one way or the other headed nicely broad of the gaping goal from eight yards.

Brandt was much less wasteful as he noticed a difficult alternative flash broad, however Fullkrug had little excuse for becoming a member of the profligate get together when he blazed over after effective work from Sancho on the flank.

A sensible Kobel save denied Ousmane Dembele earlier than Fullkrug lifted a header over the bar, earlier than the previous then copied the latter in one way or the other firing over when well-placed after leaning again too far.

Sancho was once more denied a goal involvement as his flowing transfer with Brandt went to waste as the German was denied by a Marquinhos block, earlier than Fabian added to his rising record of private misses with one other from an inviting Vitinha supply.

Finally, that was the lot as Dortmund held on for a 1-0 victory which may have seen a number of extra targets – however both means, nonetheless gives them a priceless victory to take to Paris for the return leg.

Sancho: It’s not over – however I’m delighted to be again right here

Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho advised CBS Sports:

“It’s not over, we have got to go to Paris and hopefully get the job finished there. I take it sport by sport, and performances like as we speak I hope they will keep on.

“I got here right here at 17, they gave me the chance to play my soccer. I’m delighted all of the gamers and employees who welcomed me again. I at all times give my all the things right here.

On whether or not he would possibly keep at Dortmund completely: “I really don’t know, I’m just focused on the present right now.”

Enrique: Result would not change our mentality

PSG supervisor Luis Enrique:

“We now not have something to lose. Regardless of the end result, we might have gone to win. It has been an distinctive environment for the 2 groups and in Paris we might be supported by our viewers.

“Our goal was to press. We have tried to defend ourselves on their proper aspect and defend their lengthy balls. They are a really well-worked crew.

“In the first half, we were a little less intense in attack, in the second it was totally different.”

Terzic: We deserved the victory

Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic:

“It was a well-deserved win, an excellent crew efficiency.

“We may have scored extra targets, however so may they. That’s why the result’s okay from my perspective. We ran rather a lot, however that is mandatory in a sport like this. You need to earn your option to Wembley.

“All we need now is a draw in the second leg, but we also want to win next week. We have a small lead and a good opportunity.”

Analysis: Sancho again to his finest at previous stomping floor

Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:

“Jadon Sancho is again!

“The winger has steadily been returning to peak situation in Germany after his lengthy spell on the sidelines at Man Utd however after his goal in opposition to Leipzig on the weekend his efficiency in opposition to PSG confirmed he’s again on the thrilling ranges of his first stint at Dortmund.

“There was no help however he could not have finished far more, teeing up Fullkrug and Brandt for large possibilities they didn’t convert.

“But it was his slickness with the ball at his toes, his flip of velocity and confidence in demanding to be handed to which indicated the Sancho of previous is again.

“As for PSG full-back Nuno Mendes, he had a torrid night making an attempt to include him and will not relish the rematch in Paris.”

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