Borussia Dortmund staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Lille and secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The French side took an early lead in the fifth minute, as Jonathan David fired a first-time shot through the legs of the unfortunate Gregor Kobel, putting Lille 2-1 up on aggregate following a 1-1 draw in Germany.
Despite the setback, Dortmund pushed forward relentlessly, creating several chances. Their efforts paid off in the second half, as they equalized in the 54th minute. Captain Emre Can confidently converted a penalty after Thomas Meunier was judged to have nudged Serhou Guirassy in the box.
Just moments later, Maximilian Beier came close with a header that narrowly missed the target. However, Beier quickly made amends in the 65th minute, firing a clinical strike into the roof of the net from Guirassy’s precise assist. Lille had their opportunities to pull level, with David coming close with a powerful effort from close range, but Kobel made a crucial save. Hakon Haraldsson also tested the Dortmund keeper with a dipping strike, but Kobel managed to push it over the bar.
With the final whistle, Dortmund triumphed and advanced to the quarter-finals, where they will now face La Liga giants Barcelona in the next round of the competition next month.
