UEFA Champions League: Chelsea, Benfica E-book Quarterfinals Berth With Win Over Dortmund, Membership Brugge | Soccer Information

Possibly this would be the turning level for underneath fireplace Chelsea supervisor Graham Potter. He went into Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to Borussia Dortmund with questions hanging over his future. Now he has the Champions League quarterfinals to stay up for. Kai Havertz’ twice-taken penalty secured a 2-0 win in entrance co-owner Todd Boehly at Stamford Bridge to ease the strain on Potter and spark celebrations contained in the stadium not often seen throughout such a troubled marketing campaign.

Chelsea superior 2-1 on mixture after having trailed 1-0 from the round-of-16 first leg in Dortmund final month.

“We’ve been via a troublesome interval and this competitors means quite a bit for us,” Potter mentioned.

“We wished to progress and get into the final eight and it units us up for the following few weeks.”

There definitely had been positives for Potter to take from crucial win of his early reign. Not solely did his staff present the character to recuperate from dropping the primary leg, it did so by scoring two objectives in a recreation for the primary time in 2023.

Following Saturday’s 1-0 win in opposition to Leeds, that is the primary time Chelsea has recorded back-to-back victories since October. Notably, it was additionally an evening when Potter’s luck could have turned, with VAR enjoying a serious position within the Havertz winner after Raheem Sterling had lashed the 2021 European champions forward on the night time within the forty third minute. Referee Danny Makkelie was instructed to take a second have a look at a handball by Marius Wolf, which prompted the official to award a spot kick.

Havertz stepped up, despatched Alexander Meyer the mistaken means, however noticed his shot come again off the put up and cleared. As Dortmund celebrated, VAR started working once more this time recognizing an encroachment within the field, which meant the kick needed to be retaken. Havertz repeated his approach, despatched Meyer in the wrong way once more, however on this event, he discovered the again of the web to place Chelsea in entrance within the 53rd.

“I do not know what I used to be considering however the referee let me retake the penalty,” he mentioned.

“I used to be a bit nervous however I scored. I attempted to attend and have a look at the keeper and the second was a bit simpler.”

Potter admitted he could not watch the second penalty. A run of simply two wins in 12 had elevated hypothesis about his future, and elimination from the Champions League would have positioned additional scrutiny on his place. Chelsea had rediscovered that profitable feeling simply in time for the most important night time of his early reign.

The west London membership ended its six-game winless run with victory in opposition to Leeds on Saturday, however the strain was nonetheless on the supervisor given the way wherein the season has unravelled since October.

The Champions League represents Chelsea’s final probability for silverware and presumably the one route again into subsequent season’s competitors for the two-time European champions, who presently sit tenth within the Premier League. Dortmund arrived on the again of 10 straight wins in all competitions, together with the 1-0 victory within the first leg.

The German staff additionally has one of the crucial sought-after gamers in world soccer in England midfielder Jude Bellingham however acquired an early blow when key participant Julian Brandt was injured and substituted after simply 5 minutes.

Chelsea went on to dominate the half and took the lead two minutes earlier than the break via Sterling, who fired previous Dortmund goalkeeper Meyer on the second try after Ben Chilwell’s cross.

Havertz, whose purpose secured the Champions League title for Chelsea in a 1-0 win within the closing in opposition to Manchester Metropolis two years in the past, had already hit the put up within the first half and seen one other effort dominated out for offside.

And he thought he had let one other probability go by when firing his first penalty in opposition to the put up earlier than VAR got here to his rescue.

“The final two weeks had been arduous, we misplaced a whole lot of video games,” Havertz mentioned.

“Tonight was vital. This can be a massive event and it is the final trophy that we will win. We confirmed character and that we need to maintain going.”

Whereas Bellingham described the retaken penalty as a ‘joke’, Dortmund coach Edin Terzic resisted the temptation to criticize the referee.

“Honest play to Chelsea and congratulations,” he mentioned.

“Each video games had been very shut for each groups however, on the finish of the day, they deserved it.”

Within the night time’s different recreation, Benfica routed Membership Brugge 5-1 to advance to the quarterfinals 7-1 on mixture.