Chelsea 2-0 Borussia Dortmund: Goals from Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz send Graham Potter’s side into quarters

Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling were on target as Chelsea overturned a first-leg deficit to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 and progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Blues have struggled for goals in 2023 but demonstrated a more ruthless streak in Europe’s premier competition to win 2-1 on aggregate and ease some of the pressure on boss Graham Potter.

Dortmund had controlled long spells of the first period with Marco Reus going close to breaking the deadlock with a delightful 25 yard free-kick that Kepa Arrizabalaga did well to touch past his right-hand post.

Chelsea relied upon punchy counter-attacks and carved out a series of big opportunities. Havertz hit the post and then had a goal chalked off for offside in the build-up while Joao Felix and Kalidou Koulibaly also wasted gilt-edged chances.

Sterling eventually opened the scoring two minutes prior to the break when he rifled high into the net at the second time of asking.

The second-half burst into life in dramatic fashion on 50 minutes when VAR intervened to help award a penalty for hand ball against Marius Wolf. Havertz saw his initial spot kick come crashing back off the foot of the post but made no mistake with a second attempt after VAR ordered a re-take for encroachment.

Dortmund huffed and puffed but could not find away back into the tie with Jude Bellingham somehow side-footing a close-range effort wide.

A buoyant Chelsea will now travel to Leicester in the Premier League on Saturday while Dortmund’s quest for the Bundesliga title continues away to rivals Schalke.

Talking point

A lift-off moment for Potter? There were some suggestions that an exit at the hands of Dortmund could be another nail in the former Brighton boss’ managerial coffin despite the message of continued support from the Chelsea board.

However, another sleepless night for Potter rarely looked like being the case. The Blues’ tactics to smother the BVB attack and counter at speed proved decisive as they scored more than once in a match for the first time in 2023.

It also ended a 10-match winning streak for the in-form Bundesliga giants and saw Chelsea claim back-to-back victories for the first time since October.

Of course, one swallow doesn’t make a summer, but it certainly is a much-needed tonic for Potter, who saw his side secure victory for just the fourth time in 17 outings in all competitions.

The big question now is whether it is the platform to something bigger and better or a false dawn? Only time will tell, but as the new signings begin to gel, savouring nights like this with the fans will undoubtedly help.

Player of the match

Raheem Sterling (Chelsea). Struck the all-important opener and caused Dortmund’s high line all sorts of problems with some intelligent running off the last defender. Unlucky not to have had a hand in further goals that were chalked off for close-calls on his runs being flagged offside.

Player Ratings

CHELSEA: Kepa 8, Cucurella 7, Koulibaly 7, Fofana 7, James 7, Chilwell 8, Kovacic 7, Fernandez 7, Sterling 8, Havertz 8, Felix 7. Subs: Gallagher 6, Pulisic n/a, Loftus-Cheek n/a.

DORTMUND: Meyer 7, Wolf 6, Süle 7, Schlotterbeck 7, Guerreiro 7, Can 7, Salih Ozcan 6, Brandt n/a, Bellingham 6, Reus 6, Haller 6. Subs: Reyna 6, Bynoe-Gittens 6, Malen 5.

Match Highlights

08’ – CHELSEA CHANCE! Felix wriggles into the left side of the box but a heavy touch allows Meyer to storm off his line and make a close-range block.

17’ – DORTMUND CHANCE! Reus curves a superb 25-yard free kick over the wall but Kepa springs to his right to just about push it to safety.

28’ – CHELSEA CHANCE! Havertz slams a first-time strike against the post after Dortmund had only half-cleared James’s dangerous cross.

40’ – CHELSEA CHANCE! It should be 1-0. Koulibaly somehow fails to convert into an empty net from Chilwell’s sublime free kick from the left. Felix follows up on the rebound but is denied by Meyer.

43’ – GOAL! – Chelsea 1-0 Dortmund – (1-1 on aggregate). Sterling completely misses his kick from Chilwell’s left-wing cut back but then battles through a challenge before lashing high into the net.

53’ – GOAL! – Chelsea 2-0 Dortmund – (Chelsea lead 2-1 on aggregate). Once again Havertz sends the keeper the wrong way from the spot but this time he finds the bottom corner. The Chelsea forward was handed a reprieve with a second attempt from 12 yards after his miss against the post on the first. VAR ordered a re-take for encroachment.

58’ – DORTMUND CHANCE! Bellingham side foots a close-range snapshot inches past the far post after a left-wing cross had caused chaos in the Chelsea area.

Key Stats

• Since his debut in the competition in September 2014, Raheem Sterling (44) has been involved in more Champions League goals than any other Englishman (27 goals, 17 assists), while only Wayne Rooney (30) has ever netted more in the competition amongst his compatriots.
• Potter has become just the second English manager to win five UEFA Champions League games in a single season, after Bobby Robson with Newcastle in 2002-03 (5).
• Chelsea have now progressed from five UEFA Champions League knockout stage ties after losing the first leg, the joint-most of any team in the competition’s history (Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid also five).