Synopsis
In an intense Champions League round of 16 first leg, Lille's Hakon Haraldsson netted an equaliser to draw 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund, who initially took the lead with Karim Adeyemi's stunning volley. The match saw Dortmund struggle in the second half, with both teams aiming for a decisive outcome in the upcoming clash.Key Takeaways
- Dortmund started strong but failed to maintain momentum.
- Lille equalised late in the second half.
- Both teams must improve for the second leg.
- Dortmund struggled to capitalize on chances.
- Next match will be crucial for both sides.
Berlin, March 5 (NationPress) Hakon Haraldsson's equaliser in the second half allowed Lille to finish with a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 matchup on Wednesday (IST).
Dortmund started strong, with Serhou Guirassy sending an early warning shot that just missed the left post ten minutes in.
The home side maintained control early on, while Lille found it difficult to penetrate a well-organized Dortmund defense, according to reports from Xinhua.
In the 22nd minute, Dortmund's relentless pressure yielded results when a misplayed clearance by Alexsandro fell to Karim Adeyemi, who executed a spectacular left-footed volley that hit the roof of the net.
Lille's prime opportunity in the first half came from Mohamed Bayo, whose long-range shot in the 26th minute went just off target.
Dortmund continued to advance but couldn't convert their chances. A cross from Julian Brandt went wide in the 33rd minute, and Pascal Gross' stoppage-time goal was disallowed for offside.
In the second half, Lille raised their game and pushed Dortmund back into a defensive position.
Jonathan David nearly scored in the 54th minute, but Alexander Svensson made a vital block. Lille had a penalty shout denied two minutes later when Nico Schlotterbeck fouled David in the box.
Lille's persistence paid off in the 68th minute when David's pass found Haraldsson, who skillfully controlled it and shot past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel from close range.
The equaliser momentarily energized Dortmund, but their momentum quickly faded. The home side failed to register a single shot on goal in the second half, with Lille also unable to find the net.
“It was a fair draw in the end. We did a lot more in the first period and deserved to lead too. Lille had more of the game in the second period; we were generally more passive and no longer had control over the match. We were no longer able to get into phases where we held the ball up and brought more certainty into our play.
“Overall, we found few footballing solutions and often played long balls. It definitely was not the plan for the second half. We invested too little to possibly score a second goal in the second period. There's actually a clear message for next week after this game; we have to win,” said Dortmund's sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
With the tie still finely poised, the two teams will clash again in France for the decisive second leg.
