MADRID: Borussia Dortmund held on by their fingernails to clinch a place in the Champions League final on Tuesday with a 4-3 aggregate win despite losing 2-0 after conceding late goals in a nerve-shredding finish at the Bernabeu.
The German side, who will play in their second final after winning the competi-tion in 1997, survived early pressure from a fired-up Real in the last-four second leg clash before wasting several chances to kill off the home team.
Real, chasing the 10th European crown that has eluded them since 2002, looked down and out before substitute Karim Benzema struck in the 83rd minute and Sergio Ramos smashed in a second goal five minutes later to given Jose Mourinho’s side hope.
With the raucous crowd on its feet and willing their team on, the Real players desperately sought the goal that would have taken them through but Dortmund held out to set up a clash with Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich or Barcelona, whose second leg was to be decided early on Thursday, India time.
Dortmund’s success put them into their first European final since the 2001/02 season, when they lost the UEFA Cup show-piece to Feyenoord, while Real are the only team to be eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals for three years in a row.
“It was tight at the end,” Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said in a television interview.
“We had our huge chances before that. Had we scored then it would have been over. Overall we played too little football but we won 4-3 over two games and deserve to be in the final.”
Real’s reverse is also a huge setback for their charismatic coach Mourinho, who was trying to become the first man to win the Champions League with three different clubs after triumphs with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.
It is the fifth time the Portuguese has been knocked out in the last four of Europe’s elite club competition in seven semi-final attempts.
In typically outspoken fashion, Mourinho complained that Dortmund defender Mats Hummels should have been sent off for handball by referee Howard Webb.
“It’s incredible and I continue to say the same that he is a fantastic referee,” Mourinho said.
“But it’s incredible that he didn’t give Hummels a red card,” added the Portuguese, who is a regular critic of match officials and has clashed several times with football authorities.
All the same, Mourinho praised his players for “giving their all”.
“We had opportunities to score much earlier and then we obviously would have had a better chance,” Mourinho, who has refused to commit to staying at Real beyond the end of this season, told Spanish TV.
“Near the end we almost got there but almost does not exist. Either you make it or you don’t and we didn’t make it,” he added.
“We have had three strong seasons with almost, almost, almost. I hope that in the future, and obviously that it happens soon, we can leave the almost behind and get to the final.”
The electric atmosphere appeared to energise the players and Real took the game to Dortmund early on, Gonzalo Higuain drawing a smart save from Roman Weidenfeller in the fourth minute.
Dortmund looked nervous but were also managing to get forward and Robert Lewandowski, who scored all four of their goals in last week’s 4-1 first-leg victory, volleyed straight at goalkeeper Diego Lopez in the 13th minute.
After Dortmund playmaker Mario Goetze was forced off injured in the 14th minute, his Germany team mate Mesut Ozil had a golden chance to open Real’s account when he was clean through on goal but his low strike flew narrowly wide of the post.
Mourinho made a double substitution in the 57th minute when Benzema and Kaka replaced Higuain and Fabio Coentrao but it was Dortmund who looked more threatening by that stage.
Lopez somehow managed to scramble across to deny Dortmund’s Ilkay Guendogan who had the goal at his mercy and Lewandowski’s shot was blocked by Michael Essien in the 76th.
Ozil crossed for Benzema to give Real a sliver of hope seven minutes from time and Ramos struck through a crowd of players to set up a frantic ending but it was all too late.
Mourinho dropped another hint he was considering his future by saying he might not be with the Spanish giants next season.
The former Chelsea manager was asked if he would remain in Madrid next term and he said: “Maybe not. I don’t know but I want to be where people love me to be.”
“I know I am loved in England, I am loved by the fans and the media,” Mourinho told a news conference.
“They treat me fairly. They give me credit when it is due and criticise when it is deserved.
“I am loved by some clubs, especially one,” he added referring to Chelsea. “In Spain it is different, some people hate me, many of you in this room.
“It is a difficult decision. I like the club (Real) the president, we have a good team. I need to be honest and fair.
“We will sit down and talk at the end of the season.” (Reuters)Relieved Dortmund survive at Real to reach final
MADRID: Borussia Dortmund held on by their fingernails to clinch a place in the Champions League final on Tuesday with a 4-3 aggregate win despite losing 2-0 after conceding late goals in a nerve-shredding finish at the Bernabeu.
The German side, who will play in their second final after winning the competi-tion in 1997, survived early pressure from a fired-up Real in the last-four second leg clash before wasting several chances to kill off the home team.
Real, chasing the 10th European crown that has eluded them since 2002, looked down and out before substitute Karim Benzema struck in the 83rd minute and Sergio Ramos smashed in a second goal five minutes later to given Jose Mourinho’s side hope.
With the raucous crowd on its feet and willing their team on, the Real players desperately sought the goal that would have taken them through but Dortmund held out to set up a clash with Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich or Barcelona, whose second leg was to be decided early on Thursday, India time.
Dortmund’s success put them into their first European final since the 2001/02 season, when they lost the UEFA Cup show-piece to Feyenoord, while Real are the only team to be eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals for three years in a row.
“It was tight at the end,” Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said in a television interview.
“We had our huge chances before that. Had we scored then it would have been over. Overall we played too little football but we won 4-3 over two games and deserve to be in the final.”
Real’s reverse is also a huge setback for their charismatic coach Mourinho, who was trying to become the first man to win the Champions League with three different clubs after triumphs with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.
It is the fifth time the Portuguese has been knocked out in the last four of Europe’s elite club competition in seven semi-final attempts.
In typically outspoken fashion, Mourinho complained that Dortmund defender Mats Hummels should have been sent off for handball by referee Howard Webb.
“It’s incredible and I continue to say the same that he is a fantastic referee,” Mourinho said.
“But it’s incredible that he didn’t give Hummels a red card,” added the Portuguese, who is a regular critic of match officials and has clashed several times with football authorities.
All the same, Mourinho praised his players for “giving their all”.
“We had opportunities to score much earlier and then we obviously would have had a better chance,” Mourinho, who has refused to commit to staying at Real beyond the end of this season, told Spanish TV.
“Near the end we almost got there but almost does not exist. Either you make it or you don’t and we didn’t make it,” he added.
“We have had three strong seasons with almost, almost, almost. I hope that in the future, and obviously that it happens soon, we can leave the almost behind and get to the final.”
The electric atmosphere appeared to energise the players and Real took the game to Dortmund early on, Gonzalo Higuain drawing a smart save from Roman Weidenfeller in the fourth minute.
Dortmund looked nervous but were also managing to get forward and Robert Lewandowski, who scored all four of their goals in last week’s 4-1 first-leg victory, volleyed straight at goalkeeper Diego Lopez in the 13th minute.
After Dortmund playmaker Mario Goetze was forced off injured in the 14th minute, his Germany team mate Mesut Ozil had a golden chance to open Real’s account when he was clean through on goal but his low strike flew narrowly wide of the post.
Mourinho made a double substitution in the 57th minute when Benzema and Kaka replaced Higuain and Fabio Coentrao but it was Dortmund who looked more threatening by that stage.
Lopez somehow managed to scramble across to deny Dortmund’s Ilkay Guendogan who had the goal at his mercy and Lewandowski’s shot was blocked by Michael Essien in the 76th.
Ozil crossed for Benzema to give Real a sliver of hope seven minutes from time and Ramos struck through a crowd of players to set up a frantic ending but it was all too late.
Mourinho dropped another hint he was considering his future by saying he might not be with the Spanish giants next season.
The former Chelsea manager was asked if he would remain in Madrid next term and he said: “Maybe not. I don’t know but I want to be where people love me to be.”
“I know I am loved in England, I am loved by the fans and the media,” Mourinho told a news conference.
“They treat me fairly. They give me credit when it is due and criticise when it is deserved.
“I am loved by some clubs, especially one,” he added referring to Chelsea. “In Spain it is different, some people hate me, many of you in this room.
“It is a difficult decision. I like the club (Real) the president, we have a good team. I need to be honest and fair.
“We will sit down and talk at the end of the season.” (Reuters)