Home Sports ‘Difficult to explain’ – Juve 4-4 Dortmund after remarkable second half

‘Difficult to explain’ – Juve 4-4 Dortmund after remarkable second half

Englishman Lloyd Kelly netted an equaliser in the sixth minute of added time to salvage a draw for Juventus after a thrilling eight-goal second half at home to Dortmund.

Centre-back Kelly – who joined from Newcastle in the summer – had given away a penalty to allow Dortmund to make it 4-2, but he followed up Dusan Vlahovic’s 94th-minute goal by heading home a cross from the Serbia striker two minutes later.

It provided a fitting finale to what was a remarkable second half, with all eight goals in the game coming after the 51st minute – and Juventus recovering from going behind on three occasions.

It is just the second Champions League game where eight goals have been scored in one half, after the second half of Bayern Munich’s 9-2 win against Dinamo Zagreb last season.

There had been little sign of what was to come at half-time, after a goalless first half during which both sides produced little and largely cancelled one another out in the middle of the park.

“How do you comment on a match with eight goals scored in the second half? You tell me,” said Juventus boss Igor Tudor.

“Joking aside, it’s difficult to explain. In football, it’s never over, and we did well to believe in ourselves until the end.”

Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl added: “Two teams played outstandingly well in the second half. It went back and forth, it was open, and fantastic for the spectators.

“Overall, I’m actually satisfied with the team’s performance, even if it sounds a bit skewed after the final minutes.”

How an extraordinary second half unfolded

Karim Adeyemi gave Dortmund the opener when he expertly shifted the ball on the edge of the box and guided it into the far corner.

Dortmund improved considerably in front of goal, but, 11 minutes later, a moment of Juventus magic from Kenan Yildiz ended with the Turkey international bending a wonderful effort into the far top corner from distance.

Less than two minutes passed before Dortmund were again in front, with Felix Nmecha delivering another sublime finish when he curled a first-time effort into the top corner.

But there were always further twists around the corner, and Vlahovic slotted home when one-on-one less than two minutes later to level again.

Having lost their advantage twice, Dortmund seized the lead again when Yan Couto, charging towards the Juve box, fired a low drive inside the near post, narrowly past the outstretched hand of Michele di Gregorio.

Ramy Bensebaini doubled Dortmund’s lead from the penalty spot after former England Under-21 international Kelly handled the ball in his box.

But Vlahovic fired a late effort in off the woodwork before setting up ex-Bristol City and Bournemouth defender Kelly to seal a late draw.

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