As a result of Raheem Sterling’s first-half goal and Kai Havertz’s penalty, Chelsea defeats Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on the road to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
The win also relieves pressure on head coach Graham Potter.
As Chelsea overcame a one-goal deficit from the first leg to defeat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on aggregate, Kai Havertz’s retaken penalty helped Chelsea advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Raheem Sterling’s first-half goal tied the match at 1-1 on aggregate.
After Marius Wolf was called for handball, Havertz’s first attempt hit the post. However, a second attempt was required due to encroachment, and the Germany international remained composed, choosing the same spot and scoring on the second attempt.
After a strong start by the hosts at Stamford Bridge, Raheem Sterling previously tied the game on aggregate with a strong effort from the heart of the box off of a Ben Chilwell cut-back.
Chelsea entered the game having only scored twice in their previous seven games, but they finally found some cutting edge in front of goal, keeping their European dream alive and easing some of the pressure on head coach Graham Potter.
Chelsea was buoyed by Saturday’s much-needed 1-0 win over Leeds in the Premier League.
The choice to award Havertz’s penalty and then let him retake it left a sour taste in Dortmund’s mouth. The handball was “a yard or two away,” according to Jude Bellingham, a midfielder. “It was unsatisfactory in and of itself, but the fact they had a retake is a joke.
“There will be encroachment by players running into the box by a yard or so on every penalty with such a slow run up, but that’s the nature of the game. They’ve made the decision. We must put up with it.”
