'We've got one goal: Wembley', says Dortmund's Fuellkrug

DORTMUND, Germany — Striker Niclas Fuellkrug on Tuesday backed Borussia Dortmund to return to Wembley, 11 years after the club last reached the Champions League final at the same stadium.

Dortmund defeated Atletico Madrid 4-2 in the second leg of their quarterfinal, coming from behind twice to progress 5-4 on aggregate and reach the last four, where it will face Paris Saint-Germain.

Fuellkrug's brilliant second-half header brought Dortmund level in the tie, just three minutes before Marcel Sabitzer scored the host's decisive fourth goal.

Describing the night as "magical", Fuellkrug, savoring the moment, said Dortmund was not finished yet.

"We've got one goal: Wembley."

Fuellkrug was playing second-division soccer with Werder Bremen two seasons ago, and made the move to Dortmund this past August.

"We're playing in a Champions League semifinal. For someone like me, I think it's a little more special, there are a few others here who have experienced that before."

Dortmund won the Champions League in 1997 and made it to the final in 2013 under coach Jurgen Klopp, but lost 2-1 to rival Bayern Munich.

Defender Mats Hummels and Marco Reus are the two remaining Dortmund players from that match, while defender Niklas Sule won the Champions League with Bayern in 2020.

"The atmosphere, the energy on the field, was extreme. We knew from the first minute that nobody was going to give an inch," said Fuellkrug.

"We were crazily aggressive. That's something we need to take with us into the coming weeks."

Dortmund played PSG in the group stage, losing 2-0 in Paris before drawing 1-1 at home to top the section.

Midfielder Julian Brandt, who opened the scoring in the first half for Dortmund, could scarcely believe that his side had made it through to the last four after taking a two-goal lead, conceding two goals, and then scoring twice more.

"It was a crazy game for the fans and for us. A great game for us, for our fans and for all football fans around the world," he said after receiving his man-of-the-match award.

"It's going to be very serious now against Paris. We played well against them at home in the group stage, but not so well away. We want to do better now and, of course, reach the final," he added.

Comeback win

Julian Brandt opened the scoring to level the tie before Sabitzer set up Ian Maatsen to give Dortmund a 2-0 lead on the night.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone responded with three changes at the break, and they all paid off. A Hummels own goal and a goal from substitute Joaquin Correa put the Spanish side back in front on aggregate.

Then Sabitzer set up Fullkrug in the 71st minute for the Germany forward's first goal in nine scoreless games, and, three minutes later, Sabitzer scored himself to send Dortmund into the last four.

"That was a rollercoaster, a really great evening," Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said. "It's not always like that for Borussia Dortmund. The last time we were in the semifinals was in 2013. This is a great day for all Borussen."'

Dortmund coach Edin Terzic feels his side is now better prepared to face the French champion, after the Germans lost away and drew at home in the group stage.

"Our first game against them wasn't good. In the second game, we adjusted to them better and were closer to victory.

"I think we're a better team today than we were against them in the group stage," Terzic said

Tuesday's win stretched Dortmund's unbeaten run at home in the Champions League to 10 games.

"We were close to tying the game, but they were superior, and when a team is superior they should be congratulated," said Simeone, who blamed his team's elimination on wasted opportunities from the first leg when Atletico dominated, but failed to build a bigger advantage.

Agencies