In front of 39,400 spectators at Stamford Bridge in London, Raheem Sterling (44th minute) had previously put England 1-0 ahead. But the big excitement was the controversial hand penalty, which the Dutch referee Danny Makkelie only gave after studying the video and then had it repeated after Havertz had first hit the bar.
While Dortmund had won all of their last ten competitive games, the Londoners had only scored five goals in twelve games since the beginning of the year, which was also evident in the early stages. The Londoners started ambush-like, but didn’t score. Alexander Meyer had to save against Joao Felix (6′), and Havertz didn’t get the ball on target from a good position (8′).
Chelsea are pushing for the lead
The Germans almost turned the game upside down, but Kepa Arrizabalaga fished a Reus free kick out of the corner (17′). Otherwise only the home side pressed and were unlucky for the time being. A Havertz shot landed on the inside bar but didn’t find its way into the goal (28′). A Havertz goal was rightly not recognized afterwards because Sterling was offside (38′). Meyer (40th) saved again from a Joao Felix margin.
In the 43rd minute, the BVB goalkeeper was powerless. After a Chilwell cross in the sixteenth, Sterling had the necessary luck with the ball and shot in powerfully from eleven meters. Less than two minutes after the restart, VAR intervened with a slight delay and the Londoners were awarded a penalty after Marius Wolf touched a Chilwell cross with his slightly extended hand.
Havertz keeps his nerve
Havertz charged goalkeeper Meyer, but failed on the pole. As some players ran into the penalty area too early, the penalty was repeated. Havertz showed no nerves, opted for the same execution, with the difference that this time the ball landed right in the corner. Dortmund could have saved themselves in extra time, but Jude Bellingham missed a top chance from close range (58th).
Otherwise the third goal was in the air on the other side, but didn’t fall. The “Blues”, who had played 1-1 against FC Salzburg in the group stage at Stamford Bridge, scored more than one goal for the first time in their twelfth competitive game of the new year. After the 1-0 in the league against relegation candidates Leeds United, coach Graham Potter’s team celebrated their second win in a row. Dortmund must continue to wait for the first quarter-finals in the “premier class” since the 2020/21 season.
“Tough scandal”
“The penalty plus the repetition, that’s a solid scandal. I don’t need a rule keeper to come either. There are personalities for such situations. Makkelie is a very, very arrogant person,” scolded BVB advisor Matthias Sammer after the match. BVB coach Edin Terzic spoke of a “very tough decision”.
Emre Can saw it similarly: “How can he give a second penalty, I just don’t understand it. He hits the post, that’s it,” said the national player and was annoyed with the referee: “He was arrogant the whole game. We still played a decent game. I’m proud to be part of this team. We don’t have to be ashamed. We lost undeservedly because of the referee. He might be afraid of the fans, in which case UEFA should send another referee. That hurts extremely.”
Benfica storm into the quarterfinals
Benfica fixed the entry into the quarter-finals in a sovereign manner. The Portuguese, coached by ex-Salzburg coach Roger Schmidt, won the round of 16 second leg against Club Brugge in front of their home crowd 5-1 and after the 2-0 away win they had the upper hand 7-1 overall. Benfica is among the top eight teams for the second time in a row, in 2022 they lost to Liverpool (4: 6).
The Portuguese had already laid the foundation for promotion in Belgium and shortly before the break they finally set the course for the top eight with a double strike. Rafa Silva made it 1-0 (38th) after a 70-meter sprint and a perfect counterattack after a pass from Goncalo Ramos. In injury time in the first half, the assist provider then shone as an executor himself after Joao Mario’s preparatory work. In the 57th minute, the Portuguese team striker put together his brace after assisting Grimaldo.
For the Belgians it was even more bitter. Joao Mario (71st) scored from the penalty spot and thus in the fifth Champions League game in a row. In addition, David Neres (77th) also entered the shooter list. At the end of the day, the guests at least managed to score a consolation goal, which was scored by Björn Meijer (87th) after a clever shot into the cross corner. Schmidt can now try for the first time in his coaching career in April in the quarter-finals of the “premier class”. The draw will take place on March 17th.
