Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho proved to be the matchwinner as Borussia Dortmund sent PSV packing from the Champions League last 16.
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Article continues below
Article continues below
- Sancho put in an impressive shift in attack
- Scored his first-ever UCL knockout goal
- Luuk de Jong's poor finishing sank PSV
- Getty Images
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The hosts deservedly got their noses in front just three minutes into the match after being held to a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands two weeks back. Sancho looked in inspired form right from the off and his strike from outside the box had laser-like precision. He caressed the ball with a deft first touch, was allowed the time to take aim and unleashed a shot that went through the legs of a defender and rippled the net. The goal gave Dortmund a shot in the arm, and if Niclas Fullkrug was a bit more clinical then the home side would have been 2-0 up within the first 20 minutes.
PSV started to grow in the final 10 minutes of the first half and were a completely different side in the second 45 minutes. The introduction of Hirving Lozano sparked them into life but they were profligate in front of goal, which did not help their cause. Luuk de Jong missed a late sitter, and to compound his misery, Marco Reus struck at the other end just seconds later to put the tie to bed.
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DID YOU KNOW?
It was Sancho's first-ever goal in a Champions League knockout stage game. He has seven strikes and six assists in 30 appearances in the competition.
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THE MVP
Sancho played with confidence and had an assertive attitude that was largely missing during his spell with Manchester United. He slalomed down the left wing time and again, dribbled past defenders, cut inside and even tracked back while Dortmund were mostly chasing the ball in the second half. A solid 73 minutes until he walked off gingerly before being replaced by Reus.
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- Getty Images
THE BIG LOSER
De Jong must take his fair share of the blame after PSV drew a blank, despite being the better side for the bulk of the second period. The Dutch striker was an anonymous figure throughout the match, struggled to get into goal-scoring positions and his finishing was way off the mark. In fact, the best chance of the game fell for him deep in stoppage time but he skied it over the crossbar.