Raheem Sterling Scores Lucky Goal Against Dortmund After Ugly Airshot
Chelsea went 1-0 up just before half-time in Tuesday's Champions League last 16 second leg against Borussia Dortmund.
The Blues, who lost the first leg 1-0 in Germany three weeks earlier, had been the much better team at Stamford Bridge before Raheem Sterling fired them ahead in the 43rd minute.
Chelsea deserved their goal on the balance of play but it was also the product of a big slice of luck.
Players from Chelsea pictured celebrating a goal by Raheem Sterling against Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 clash
IMAGO/PA Images/John Walton
Sterling made a real mess out of his initial attempt to meet a Ben Chilwell cross with a first-time shot.
The former Manchester City forward completely missed the ball with his swinging left foot, only for it to bounce kindly off his standing right leg.
Sterling was then tackled by Marco Reus but the ball rebounded back into his path and he hammered it into the net.
Chelsea were probably due some luck by this point.
Kai Havertz had earlier hit the inside of the Dortmund post and also had a goal disallowed for a tight offside call against Sterling.
Havertz hit the post again early in the second half when he missed a penalty kick awarded for handball against Marius Wolf.
Luckily for Havertz, a VAR review gave him a second chance after finding a Dortmund defender guilty of encroachment.
Havertz made no mistake from the second spot-kick and Chelsea went on to win 2-0 on the night, 2-1 on aggregate.
