Nmecha strikes to give Dortmund vital win at Newcastle
Borussia Dortmund rekindled their hopes in Champions League Group F with a gritty 1-0 victory at Newcastle United thanks to Felix Nmecha’s clinical first-half strike on Wednesday.
Nmecha’s well-taken goal near the end of a high-octane opening half proved enough for the Bundesliga side to post their first win in the group at the third time of asking.
After a wide-open first period, Dortmund defended their lead solidly after the break although Callum Wilson headed a chance against the crossbar and Anthony Gordon also struck the woodwork deep in stoppage time on a frustrating night for Newcastle.
Defeat was an anti-climax for Eddie Howe’s side after their big win over Paris St Germain in the previous match, and the group is now wide open with PSG on six points, Newcastle and Dortmund both on four and Milan on two.
“In the second half we had to defend a lot but we did it with a lot of passion and a bit of luck,” Dortmund coach Edin Terzić told TNT Sport. “This group is going to be a very tough fight until the end.”
Newcastle had scored 18 goals in all competitions in seven home games this season, including four in the stunning demolition of PSG earlier this month.
But Dortmund proved a far harder nut to crack as they demonstrated their European experience with some exhilarating attacking play in the first half followed by stern resistance on a foul rainy night on Tyneside.
The two sides will meet again in a fortnight in Dortmund in a match that is likely to be pivotal.
“It is going to be difficult but we’re in the Champions League. Nothing comes easy,” a drenched Howe said.
“You know you’re going to have to win in some tough places. Now we need to dust ourselves down and be ready.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose today.”
Nmecha’s first Champions League goal at the end of a high-octane opening half was Dortmund’s first in the competition this season and ultimately it proved decisive.
Gordon was dispossessed deep in Dortmund territory and the visitors launched a devastating counter-attack with Nico Schlotterbeck sweeping down the left before clipping back a pass for Nmecha to dispatch a first-time shot past Pope.
Pope had earlier produced some heroics to keep Dortmund out, blocking a shot by Donyell Malen after he was played through on goal and then making a stunning double save to first thwart Malen and then Niclas Fullkrug’s follow-up.
Gordon was Newcastle’s best attacking player and twice came close for the hosts in a frenetic opening to the game, forcing excellent saves from Gregor Kobel on both occasions.
Wilson, who replaced the injured Alexander Isak early on, should have scored shortly after the break but fired his shot straight at Kobel.
Dortmund stifled Newcastle after that but needed some luck in the dying minutes to go home with the points. First Wilson headed a Matt Targett cross against the crossbar, and with almost the last kick of the game Gordon’s deflected shot looped against virtually the same piece of woodwork.
“We had a fantastic first half, when we deserved the win. In the second, we defended it,” Terzic said.
“We invested a lot and gave everything to bring that win home.”
Haaland brace lifts Man City to 3-1 win over Young Boys
Erling Haaland ended his goal drought with a second-half brace while Manuel Akanji scored on his return to his homeland as reigning champions Manchester City all but secured their spot in the Champions League knockout stage with a 3-1 win over Swiss side Young Boys on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side maintained their 100% winning record in Group G with three victories, despite their pre-game concerns about playing on the slick artificial turf at rain-lashed Wankdorf Stadium.
“It was an exceptional game,” Guardiola told TNT Sports. I’m just really, really pleased for the way we played; we need one more game to qualify mathematically and then two more to finish first.”
City can clinch their spot in the knockout stage when they play Young Boys again, this time at home, on Nov. 7.
Haaland scored for the first time in six Champions League games with a penalty in the 67th minute after Mohamed Camara’s tackle on Rodri in the box.
City’s goal-scoring machine added a fabulous second goal when he moved the ball from his left foot to his right before firing it into the top corner in the 86th.
Haaland, who rewrote several scoring records last season, added another one on Wednesday, breaking Kylian Mbappe’s mark as the youngest player to score 37 Champions League goals. The Norwegian striker, who is 23 years and 96 days, did it in 33 games.
“It is important to have the chances; the people want him to fail,” Guardiola said. “I am sorry but this guy will score goals all his life, with the chances he is an incredible threat… he is going to score until the last day he plays football.”
City had a string of first-half near misses before Akanji finally broke the deadlock three minutes after the break when Ruben Dias’s header was pushed off the crossbar by keeper Anthony Racioppi and the Swiss defender swung his right leg high to boot it in.
But Young Boys caught City keeper Ederson in no man’s land to level four minutes later, sending in Meschack Elia with a superb pass which he scooped high over Ederson into the net.
A City goal felt like an inevitability after their string of unbelievable first-half near misses, including Jack Grealish’s curling shot that Racioppi dropped, allowing Matheus Nunes to bundle the ball towards the goal before Loris Benito slid to save it on the line.
“That is how it goes, if you don’t take them chances it can be difficult,” defender Rico Lewis told TNT Sports. “In the end the forwards took their chances and we won the game.”
City’s Julian Alvarez had a goal waved off after VAR determined Grealish had handled the ball in the build-up.
Young Boys are third in the group on one point after three matches.
UEFA Champions League results (R3)
Wednesday results
Feyenoord 3 Lazio 1
Barcelona2 Shakhtar Donetsk 1
RB Leipzig 3 Crvena Zvezda 1
Young Boys 1 Manchester City 3
Celtic 2 Atlético Madrid 2
Antwerp 1 Porto 4
PSG 3 Milan 0
Newcastle United 0 Borussia Dortmund 1
Tuesday results
Internazionale (1) 2 Salzburg (0) 1
Galatasaray (1) 1 Bayern München (1) 3
Sporting Braga (0) 1 Real Madrid (1) 2
Union Berlin (0) 0 Napoli (0) 1
Benfica (0) 0 Real Sociedad (0) 1
Manchester United (0) 1 København (0) 0
Lens (0) 1PSV (0) 1
Sevilla (0) 1 Arsenal (1) 2