Magical Monaco too hot for Dortmund
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Article summary
Kylian Mbappé and Radamel Falcao scored early goals and substitute Valère Germain struck with his first touch as Monaco beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 on the night and 6-3 on aggregate.
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Monaco reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2004 as a typically potent attacking display proved too much for Borussia Dortmund at Stade Louis II.
Early goals from Kylian Mbappé and Radamel Falcao extended the Ligue 1 club's aggregate advantage and, though Marco Reus gave Dortmund hope, substitute Valère Germain scored within seconds of his introduction to ensure Leonardo Jardím's enterprising side progressed.
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- Behind the scenes gallery
Five goals in the quarter-final first leg had promised another open contest, and within three minutes the predictions were fulfilled. Benjamin Mendy's shot was too hot for Roman Bürki to hold; the irrepressible Mbappé swept in the rebound.
Chances continued to come at both ends, and Dortmund nearly levelled on the night in the 14th minute when Nuri Şahin's free-kick beat Danijel Subašić only to come back off the upright. Three minutes later, they were further behind instead. Mbappé found Thomas Lemar bursting down the left, and the cross was perfect for Falcao to head in.
Dortmund controlled the majority of the play up to half-time, but struggled to create clear opportunities as Monaco sat deep, relying on their lightning counterattacks. Three minutes after half-time, however, BVB were back in it. Substitute Ousmane Dembélé outpaced Mendy down the right and Reus smashed in his low cross at the near post.
Bürki tipped over Almamy Touré's header to keep Dortmund in contention, and they had another escape when Falcao chipped narrowly over. Mbappé fired narrowly wide and the goalkeeper denied Lemar as Monaco kept pushing. At the other end, Reus drove straight at Subašić.
Monaco, though, would have the final word. Germain came on and, within seconds, latched on to Lemar's deflected centre to shoot under Bürki and crown another highly impressive Monaco showing.
Key player: Kylian Mbappé (Monaco)
Having netted twice in last week's first leg, Mbappé continued his astounding ascent by grabbing the opener in ice-cold fashion, kept Dortmund's defenders on the back foot and played a part in the creation of Falcao's goal. Only Raúl González, with six, scored more UEFA Champions League goals before his 19th birthday than Mbappé – and the Frenchman still has time to catch up, with two semi-final matches looming.
Monaco's fearsome forwards
Clinical and contrasting finishes from attacking duo Mbappé and Falcao ensured a relatively comfortable night for Monaco as they helped themselves to a customary strike apiece. Mbappé's fifth in four UEFA Champions League starts was a poacher's goal and again showed composure remarkable for an 18-year-old. Falcao's resurgence after serious injury and two barren seasons has been equally compelling as Mbappé's emergence. A 45th goal in 50 European appearances underlined the Colombian's pedigree and the 31-year-old skipper has grown into his leadership role surrounded by talented youngsters.
Three a surprise
When Dortmund switched from a back three to a back four in the second half of the first leg, they pushed Monaco back. So today's starting XI came as something of a surprise, with Thomas Tuchel again deploying a back three, which has been his preferred formation since November. He made a very early change on 27 minutes by bringing on Dembélé, whose exclusion was also unexpected given his excellent first-leg display. But while the back four once more brought stability, the damage had been done.
Reporters' views
David Crossan, Monaco (@UEFAcomDavidC)
Monaco invited the heroes of their 2004 charge to the UEFA Champions League final to Stade Louis II and, as Fernando Morientes watched Falcao's powerful goal, it must have evoked memories of his own emphatic headers in both legs of the quarter-final against Real Madrid that glorious year. This Monaco side is just as exciting as the 2004 vintage and no matter who stands in Jardim's team's way in the semis, they are capable of matching their predecessors and reaching the final.
Steffen Potter, Dortmund (@UEFAcomSteffenP)
Mbappé's opener was an early sign that this was not to be Dortmund's night and when Falcao nodded the second, the writing was on the wall: a miracle was needed. Reus pulling one back seemed to suggest that a Dortmund comeback might still be on, but in the end Monaco contained them and added to their early goals – deservedly prevailing as the better side over the two games.