Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund. UEFA Champions League Semi-Final.
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Report as Borussia Dortmund reach the Champions League final with a 2-0 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain; leading 1-0 from the first leg in Dortmund, Mats Hummels doubled the German side's advantage; PSG hit the post four times
Wednesday 8 May 2024 10:16, UK
Borussia Dortmund became the first team to reach the Champions League final at Wembley as Mats Hummels' second-half header earned them a 1-0 win at Paris Saint-Germain, to complete a 2-0 victory on aggregate.
Leading by one goal from the first leg in Germany, Dortmund showed a brilliant defensive display to stifle Kylian Mbappe and Co, then Hummels rose highest to head home Julian Brandt's corner five minutes into the second period.
That goal was crucial as PSG hit the post four times in the second period through Warren Zaire-Emery, Nuno Mendes, Mbappe and Vitinha, meaning the French side were denied by the woodwork six times over the two legs.
PSG were also wasteful, failing to score from 30 shots. Goncalo Ramos spurned the best of the chances, while the hosts were denied a penalty by referee Daniele Orsato, who changed his mind to give a free-kick on the edge of the box instead of a spot kick.
So Dortmund's excellent efficiency - not Mbappe's magic - will grace the Champions League final in London on June 1 against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
A raucous atmosphere greeted both players, with PSG's many banners including a tearing up of the Dortmund badge in front of their players' eyes. Mbappe had the first chance of the night, watching a volley down in the box but finding Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel Ramos fired wide from the edge of the area in the first of his many missed chances.
But Dortmund's confidence grew as Karim Adeyemi saw an effort deflected wide, before Julian Ryerson crashed a shot into the side-netting after good hold-up play in the box by Niclas Fullkrug after a long throw.
Two quickfire chances at both ends came in the space of a few seconds as Hummels denied Mbappe a tap-in with a superb last-ditch challenge, before Adeyemi showed his pace on the break, forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into a smart stop.
PSG's last chances of the first half saw long-range drives from Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz easily dealt with, underlining how well Dortmund defended in the opening period.
The German side rode their luck minutes into the second period as Zaire-Emery struck the post from a few yards out - and moments later, Dortmund's lead was doubled.
It was a simple yet significant goal as Hummels rose highest, albeit unmarked, to meet Brandt's corner and PSG had a mountain to climb.
The hosts' response was emphatic yet wasteful. Ramos spooned a close-range effort over before Nuno Mendes smashed the post with a rasping drive from the edge of the box.
PSG thought they had a route back in when referee Daniele Orsato pointed to the spot after Hummels felled Ousmane Dembele - but the Italian referee immediately changed his mind and gave a free-kick on the edge of the box, with VAR agreeing with the amended call.
Mbappe then had just his second shot of the game as he crashed into the side netting, before the Frenchman saw a close-range finish tipped onto the bar by Kobel.
Vitinha made it yet another strike off the woodwork as his long-range drive bounced off the frame of the goal. It just wasn't PSG's night, while it remains on course to be Dortmund's Champions League season.
Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic to TNT Sports:
"Proud. If I have to find one word, it's proud for us. I'm very proud for my staff and my team, for the club. The dream is not over yet!
"We suffered a lot but we showed a very good away game against a team that is so powerful up front, so quick, so mobile - and we kept two clean sheets. We won both games in the semi-finals, this is unbelievable and outstanding.
"[The defence was] led by Gregor Kobel, then Hummels, then Nico Schlotterbeck, then Julian Ryerson, then Ian Maatsen. The boys in front of them, it was an outstanding team performance. Other than that, you have no chance to keep a clean sheet. It's impossible.
"The second half was just passionate and keep a clean sheet, do everything to block crosses and shots."
PSG manager Luis Enrique to TNT Sports:
"When the result is that, it's a difficult night. A tight match but to be honest we deserved to win the match.
"We created 30 shots, four off the post and in the two matches we hit the post six times and we didn't score a goal. Football is so unfair sometimes.
"Congratulations to them, they're a great team. They did great and I hope they can go to the final and win it.
"Our job is trying to create something positive. Now it's a sad moment but at the same time you have to accept the game goes in that way. We have to create something special next year and try to win that competition."
Borussia Dortmund were not even fancied to get out of the group stages, let alone reach the final.
Edin Terzic's side were paired with PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle in the opening matches of this season's competitions - and the Bundesliga side were deemed the least likely to go another step further.
Yet here they are again. That's two Champions League finals at Wembley in the space of 11 years and this is the sweetest one yet. Back in 2013, Jurgen Klopp was the Dortmund manager, with Robert Lewandowski leading the line.
This Dortmund team, on the other hand, lost Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid this summer. It is an unlikely bunch of players.
Earlier this season, Jadon Sancho was frozen out by Manchester United. Ian Maatsen was fresh off loan spells at Burnley and Coventry.
Just four years ago, Karim Adeyemi was at Austrian second-division side Liefering, while Nico Schlotterbeck was playing in the fourth tier with Freiburg's second team at 20 years old.
Next up for these misfits is Wembley - and you can't even rule them out of going all the way.
PSG, already crowned Ligue 1 champions, travel to 11th-placed Toulouse on Sunday, kick-off 8pm.
Borussia Dortmund are live on Sky Sports Football for their next Bundesliga game when they visit Mainz on Saturday, kick-off 5.30pm.
