Borussia Dortmund knocked out of the UEFA Champions League following 3-1 loss to Sporting CP
By Tushar Bahl
Borussia Dortmund have been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Sporting CP on Wednesday.
Borussia Dortmund’s hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 are over after a disastrous evening in Lisbon. Needing at least a draw to stay in contention to qualify, the Black and Yellows suffered a 3-1 defeat to Sporting CP. The result means that Marco Rose’s side will be playing in the Europa League after the turn of the year.
Marco Rose made two enforced changes to his starting XI, with Marin Pongracic coming in for Mats Hummels and Reinier replacing Thorgan Hazard. Another enforced change was made just minutes before kick-off, as Raphael Guerreiro had muscular problems during the warm-up. Nico Schulz replaced him at left-back.
Borussia Dortmund were outplayed by Sporting in the first half, with the home side going close on a number of occasions before finally taking the lead through Pedro Goncalves. The Portuguese international pounced on the ball and fired the opening goal past Gregor Kobel after Nico Schulz and Marin Pongracic failed to clear their lines.
Goncalves then doubled his and Sporting’s tally just nine minutes later, this time with a fine finish from the edge of the box.
Borussia Dortmund had a couple of chances of their own. Donyell Malen hit the post and had a shot cleared off the line. But other than that, the Black and Yellows looked uninspired going forward in the first half.
Emre Can replaced Nico Schulz at half-time, and Borussia Dortmund came out of the blocks quickly for the second half. But Sporting defended deep and managed to frustrate Dortmund for the majority of the second half.
Borussia Dortmund’s frustrations boiled over in the 74th minute as Emre Can was given a straight red card for kicking at a Sporting player. And things went from bad to worse soon after, as Sporting CP were awarded a penalty after Dan-Axel Zagadou committed a foul inside the box. Gregor Kobel saved the penalty, but Pedro Porro headed home the rebound to give Sporting a three goal cushion.
dark. Next. Player ratings from Borussia Dortmund's 3-1 defeat to Sporting CP
Donyell Malen pulled a goal back in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough as Borussia Dortmund crashed out of the UEFA Champions League.