Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling scores in Champions League 16 match against Borussia Dortmund on March 8, 2023 | Photo Credit: Reuters
A first-half goal from Raheem Sterling and a controversial penalty by Kai Havertz overturned a first-leg deficit on Tuesday and sent Chelsea through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund.
As they did in Germany three weeks ago, as Dortmund won 1-0, 2021 champions Chelsea wasted one chance after another in the first half, with Germany’s Havertz hitting the post. But in the 43rd minute, Ben Chilwell went inside the box and found England teammate Raheem Sterling.
Sterling airkicked his first attempt, then rounded off Marco Reus and sent his second high into the net to keep the team level on aggregate.
A Chilwell cross early in the second half hit defender Marius Wolff’s outstretched hand and Dutch referee Danny McKelley awarded a penalty after the VAR screen was called.
Havertz hit the keeper’s left-hand post and replay was restarted for a few seconds until VAR alerted McCallie that Dortmund players had encroached on the area. Havertz recovered the kick and sent the ball in the same way but this time it went inside the post for his 53rd-minute strike.
It was Dortmund’s first defeat after winning their last 10 matches and a boost for Chelsea, who have struggled for form under Graham Potter since the end of the year.