Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho Wows Fans in UCL Semifinal Leg 1 Win vs. Kylian Mbappé, PSG
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVMay 1, 2024
Lars Baron/Getty Images
Paris Saint-Germain’s wait for a Champions League title may drag on for yet another season.
The newly crowned Ligue 1 champions fell 1-0 to Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their semifinal clash Wednesday. Niclas Füllkrug’s goal in the 36th minute was the difference in the match.
CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazoDORTMUND STRIKE FIRST ⚡
Schlotterbeck sends a perfect ball over to the top 👌
Füllkrug makes no mistake 🎯 pic.twitter.com/GJ2jytxpbd
Given the sheer amount of talent on display, plenty of fans expected a prominent attacker to take center stage at Signal Iduna Park; Jadon Sancho wouldn’t have been high on the list, though.
Maybe the 24-year-old simply loves putting on a Dortmund shirt. The commanding performance he delivered on the right flank was a common sight during his first spell in Germany and has been decidedly lacking following his move to Manchester United.
Adam Fahmi @AdamManredSancho criticized for not taking defenders on at United, in a team that can’t make 5 passes. Put him in a decent team & all of a sudden he’s skipping past players like they’re not there in a CL semi final vs PSG. We got played out the park by Copenhagen.
Football on TNT Sports @footballontntJadon Sancho becomes the 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 player to complete 10+ dribbles in a Champions League semi-final match across the last eight seasons.
The PSG defenders are on skates 🛼 pic.twitter.com/c1lAldQluW
Henry Winter @henrywinterJadon Sancho flying. Full of pace, skill and confidence. #DORPSG
Paddy Power @paddypowerMan United fans seeing Jadon Sancho ripping PSG apart in a Champions League semi-final pic.twitter.com/6yZEvrIj7b
Miguel Delaney @MiguelDelaneySancho is destroying Nuno Mendes now.
Out of Context Football Manager @nocontextfm1Jadon Sancho when he’s not wearing a Manchester United shirt pic.twitter.com/bNcJem2v17
Alfie | HITC Sevens @HITCSevensReally impressed by Sancho at Dortmund.
Surely at some point a top Premier League team is going to come in for him.
Match of the Day @BBCMOTDHow do you rate Jadon Sancho’s performance tonight? 💯#BBCFootball #UCL pic.twitter.com/AtkpZ5UJZh
Garnachismo🔰 @alejoUTDJadon Sancho vs París Saint Germain Skills and Highlights HD pic.twitter.com/4DFWHwm2XD
Zito @_ZeetsJadon Sancho winning man of the match in a Champions League semifinal after sitting out a year. This sport is so beautiful and hilarious.
EuroFoot @eurofootcom🏴⚡️ Really eletric performance from Jadon Sancho (24) vs PSG… 🪄
• 88% pass accuracy
• 13 duels won, most in match
• 12 dribbles completed, most in match
• 3 chances created, most in match
Football is all about confidence and playing in the right environment. 📈 pic.twitter.com/Uevzw1IH4q
It was a tougher night for the player Sancho helped to replace years ago. Ousmane Dembélé had an opportunity to deal a major blow to his old club as PSG searched for an equalizer deep into the second half.
Instead, he skied his effort from inside the 18-yard box over the bar in the 81st minute.
B/R Football @brfootballOusmane Dembélé missing a sitter against Dortmund: pic.twitter.com/8vJTInKh93
Neal 🇦🇺 @NealGardner_That’s the Dembele we all know and love…
Why didn’t he turn up against Barça?!
Alvaro Romeo @Alvaro_RomeoI don’t talk about Ousmane Dembele. He does the impossible and misses the easy ones. I prefer a player who can do exactly the opposite, someone who gives you certainties rather than a mix of wows and what ifs, but that’s my taste.
It was that kind of night for Paris Saint-Germain, which collectively lacked the finishing touch.
CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazoRIGHT POST. LEFT POST. A FLYING ATTEMPTED HEADER!
Mbappé and Hakimi come so close for PSG 😱 pic.twitter.com/inLUbDm46Q
Perhaps no club has been more synonymous with heartbreak and disappointment on the European stage than PSG over the last decade. The Parisians have spared no expense in pursuit of a winner’s medal since Qatar Sports Investments executed its takeover in 2011, and they’ve largely succeeded only in becoming a running joke.
That Paris Saint-Germain couldn’t secure a draw, even away from home, against the fifth-best team in the Bundesliga is a result that will lead a lot of world football fans to believe we know how this story is going to end in the return fixture.
The Nomad Post. @the_nomad_postPSG couldn’t win the Champions League with Messi, Neymar and Mbappé.
I don’t understand why they even bother at this point. It’s not in their heritage. pic.twitter.com/kxyViiPxca
Matteo Bonetti @BonettiBorussia Dortmund 1-0 PSG
This could really put a dent in PSG’s five year plan to win UCL
TalkFCB © @talkfcb_Mbappe did virtually nothing in the two legs against Barça, too. So annoying that we giftwrapped him & PSG the win. https://t.co/DfwSNqSeud
The second leg will get underway at Parc des Princes on May 7.
Nobody should count out PSG considering this isn’t even the worst position it has found itself in heading home in the second half of a knockout tie. The postmortems were probably being written the moment Raphinha put Barcelona ahead 4-2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals. Then Paris Saint-Germain scored four unanswered goals.
One thing is clear: Lady luck will need to shine on Luis Enrique’s squad a lot more than it did Wednesday night for the turnaround to happen.
