Champions, Chelsea-Borussia Dortmund 2-0: goals from Sterling and Havertz

Sparkling in talent, amusing in the opportunities produced, abundant in the sense of strength expressed. But the lightness of not being able to translate all this into a goal, or at least not doing it in proportion to their superiority, keeps Chelsea hanging on the risk of a possible nasty surprise right around the corner right up to the last minute. In the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, Stamford Bridge thus celebrates the Blues’ 2-0 win over proud Dortmund which, overturning Borussia’s 1-0 in the first leg, qualifies Potter for the quarter-finals: the goals decide, immediately before and immediately after the rest, by Sterling (43′) and Havertz (53′), two thirds of the trident of wonders completed by Joao Felix, who enchants London. And not only.

Summing up

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Chelsea rises where it belongs, mindful of that European throne conquered two years ago but also now hoping for a more lenient draw (in ten days) than the one that drew the terminus in the quarterfinals a year ago in the early final against then-champion Madrid . Dortmund greets Europe that counts with the satisfaction of having entered the top sixteen: better than last year’s elimination in the group stage, worse than the quarterfinals two years ago, in any case with head held high for Terzic, capable to make up for the technical gap with clearance and balancing. But then making up for it up to a certain point, in the face of certain opponents. Thus surrendering to the first defeat of 2023, decisive to say goodbye to the cup.

INCISIVENESS VERSUS POSSESSION

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Taking to the field with the urgency to get the qualifying match back on its feet as soon as possible after the deficit in the first leg in Dortmund, Chelsea actually took longer than the chances produced would have led to think. Not only superior individual talent, but also the desire to attack the game, but getting lost for a long time in the playing of those who know they can produce opportunities in quantity, and the goal will come. It can happen after a minute with Sterling, after six minutes with Joao Felix, after eight with Havertz: the potential is explained in strength. Once the flare-ups were exhausted, Chelsea – compact in the defensive phase – came to terms with Dortmund’s possession, made up of method rather than incisiveness, even after the early entry (in the 5th minute) of Reyna in place of the injured Brandt: the game was around the corner, because a free-kick from Reus is foiled only by the flight for Kepa’s corner, Borussia is alive.

OCCASIONS IN QUANTITY

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Enough to convince Chelsea not to take their foot off the accelerator of superior quality to bundle opportunities in quantity: Havertz post to Meyer beaten in the 28th minute on a clearance by Wolf, then the goal also comes from Havertz in the 38th minute – always after a combination between Joao Felix and Sterling – but was disallowed for offside at the start of the action. Nothing, in the 40th minute Koulibaly caught in front of goal by a great cross from Chillwell incredibly hits back and forth as if it were a defensive intervention. Push push, much less than what was produced, but in the end Potter manages to go to the break squeezing at least one goal out of the avalanche of chances: minute 44′, ball to Sterling in the center of the area who first gets wrapped up hitting badly, then on a rebound from Reus he can try again and he is more fortunate, and also good, bagging the much coveted advantage.

THE PENALTY

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The play that closes the games, in hindsight, arrives immediately at the start of the second half: Chilwell’s cross on the arm at all attached to Wolf’s body. The Dutch referee Makkelle needs the call from the Var, the video review and five minutes to decide the penalty. Havertz kicks to the post to his right, but pardoned by the invasion of Ozcan who gives him the repetition: the German of the Blues shoots again to his right, but a few centimeters more precise, again displacing Meyer and taking the deserved cover, star more light of the night of Stamford Bridge.

UNTIL THE END

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Yet Chelsea didn’t close it: Dortmund threw away the golden opportunity in the 58th minute with Bellingham who found himself in the area with the ball that could reopen everything, and wasted it. Speed ​​and movements are not lacking in Borussia, even Wolf manages to shoot hard in front of Kepa. Potter’s men continue to waste, Gallagher ends up in goal with the ball in the 75th minute but there was offside. Too much technical difference, too much even to see the Blues’ waste in industrial quantities punished, yet the inevitably tense finale sends shivers down your back until the last guest corner in the 95th minute. Come on Chelsea, auf wiedersehen Dortmund.