Special for the Armenian Weekly
Despite an impressive 2:0 home win at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on April 8, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and his Borussia Dortmund team crashed out of the UEFA Champions League quarter finals, losing by an aggregate score line of 3:2 to a Real Madrid side, which was without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mkhitaryan (Photo: www.facebook.com/MkhitaryanOfficial)
Trailing 3:0 from the first leg which was played in Madrid a week earlier, Dortmund had it all to do. Dortmund’s coach Jürgen Klopp hailed his players for their incredible performance despite being unable to overturn the deficit they had found themselves in.
Real Madrid was unable to convert a first half penalty kick which would have left Dortmund needing five goals (due to the away goal tiebreaker). Angel di Maria saw his effort saved by Dortmund’s keeper Roman Weidenfeller to the delight of the infamously noisy and partisan Dortmund crowd. The save spurred the Dortmund players on and by half time they had reduced the deficit to one goal. Marco Reus was the man who took charge of the tie, bagging a brace of goals which had everyone in Dortmund believing in the impossible.
In fact, Dortmund was unlucky not to be level by half time. Henrikh Mkhitaryan spurned a terrific opportunity in front of goal. Robert Lewandowski’s terrific work on the left fashioned the chance for Mkhitaryan, but his sharp side footed effort flashed inches past the near post and wide.
The second half saw more of the same tactics from Dortmund. Pressure high up the pitch from the Dortmund attack was causing Sergio Ramos and Pepe untold trouble in the center of the Real Madrid defense, as they continued to cough up cheap possession in their own half.
Marco Reus continued to be the bright spark for Dortmund, as he excellently threaded a ball through to Henrikh in the box. Mkhitaryan skipped past Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal and with the back of the net at his mercy was unable to stroke the ball home. His left footed shot cannoned of the base of the post and the ensuing scramble was dealt with by the Madrid defense.
Moments later another guilt edged chance fell to the feet of the Armenian but this time his effort was denied by Casillas. Dortmund continued to press in the final quarter of an hour, and they were lucky not to be caught on the break on a few occasions, with the speedy Welshman Gareth Bale always posing a threat.
The final whistle blew with Dortmund winning the tie 2:0, and shutting out the potent Madrid attack for the first time in an incredible 34 Champions League matches. A moral victory on the night, but ultimately not enough as the home side fell to a 3:2 aggregate defeat and Real Madrid marched on the semifinal stage.
Having tasted Champions League football in previous seasons with his former club Shakhtar Donetsk, Mkhitaryan had the chance with his new club to go deeper into the knock out stages than before. He was presented with glorious chances to have the name Mkhitaryan adorn every back page across Europe, but unfortunately, he was unable to follow the Hollywood script. The normally clinical front man left his shooting boots at home and will be left to rue a missed opportunity to join Europe’s elite players at the semifinal stage.
For Dortmund, continuing their recent Champions League success will become more and more difficult. Last year they lost Mario Götse to Bayern Munich and this year they are set to lose Robert Lewandowski to the same German powerhouse. Who knows if Marco Reus and even the coach Jürgen Klopp will be on the move during the next transfer window?
For Mkhitaryan, tonight’s result will sting badly. Henrikh gained valuable Champions League experience this season and although it was a tough lesson, he’ll now know what it takes to reach the next level.
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Piszczek (Aubemeyang 81’), Friedrich, Hummels, Durm, Jojic, Kirch, Grosskreutz, Mkhitaryan, Reus, Lewandowski
Coach: Klopp
Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal (YC), Pepe, Ramos (YC), Coentrao, Illarremendi (Isco 46’), Alonso (YC), Modric, di Maria (Casemiro 73’), Benzema (YC) (Varane 90’), Bale
Coach: Ancelotti