In a thrilling first leg of the Champions League semi-final, Borussia Dortmund defeated PSG 1-0 behind a superb goal from Niclas Fullkrug, with Jadon Sancho being the star of the show.
The England winger, who was benched by parent club Manchester United, gave Nuno Mendes a tough time at the Westfalenstadion and had a great opportunity to pick up three assists if his teammates had been wearing shooting boots.
Rather, it was only Fullkrug’s thunderbolt at the near post in the first half, following a lovely ball over the top from Nico Schlotterbeck, that reached the back of the net.
Dortmund controlled the first half and were rightfully awarded the victory, but their advantage was only maintained by the slimmest of margins when Fabian Ruiz missed a fantastic opportunity after Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi were denied by the same post in the same play.
Soon after, Sancho set up Fullkrug for an easier finish than his goal, but the striker spooned a straightforward chance over the crossbar. The Man Utd loanee then played a nice one-two with Julian Brandt, whose careless play denied him another big chance.
Despite the fact that Edin Terzic’s underdog team has made progress towards their improbable journey to the final, Dortmund will still face tough opposition in France in six days.
Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho told CBS Sports:
“It’s not over, we’ve got to go to Paris and hopefully get the job done there. I take it game by game, and performances like today I hope they can carry on.
“I came here at 17, they gave me the opportunity to play my football. I’m delighted all the players and staff who welcomed me back. I always give my everything here.
On whether he might stay at Dortmund permanently: “I really don’t know, I’m just focused on the present right now.”
PSG manager Luis Enrique:
“We no longer have anything to lose. Regardless of the result, we would have gone to win. It has been an exceptional atmosphere for the two teams and in Paris we will be supported by our audience.
“Our goal was to press. We have tried to defend ourselves on their right side and defend their long balls. They are a very well-worked team.
“In the first half, we were a little less intense in attack, in the second it was totally different.”
Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic:
“It was a well-deserved win, a good team performance.
“We could have scored more goals, but so could they. That’s why the result is okay from my point of view. We ran a lot, but that’s necessary in a game like this. You have to earn your way 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.”
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