It was dramatic inaugural round in the UEFA’s elite competition, with Juventus and Borussia Dortmund exchanging eight post-interval goals as Qarabag shocked Benfica in a turnaround.
Injury-Time Heroics Seal Incredible Result
The Serbian striker and Lloyd Kelly scored in added time to complete a stunning recovery for Juventus, as they snatch a four-all draw in a match where every one of the goals were scored after the break.
Juventus trailed 4-2 when the forward fired in his second of the night in the fourth minute of stoppage time and Kelly sealed the fightback two minutes later to earn a portion of the points.
Frenetic Second Half
After a goalless opening 45, the German outfit made the opening goal in the 53rd minute following halftime as Karim Adeyemi drilled a precise effort into the far corner from just outside the 18-yard box. The Italian team drew level in the 63rd minute through the young talent, who collected the delivery on the perimeter of the box, set himself and guided a superb strike into the top corner to delight the home support.
The joy were fleeting, but, as the midfielder reclaimed Dortmund’s advantage just moments later with a crisp one-time shot from outside the box.
The action exhibited not a hint of slowing down, and in the 68th minute the hosts were tied once more, the striker bursting on to a expertly placed assist to slot past Gregor Kobel in BVB’s sticks.
The frenzy carried on in the later stage, when the wing-back’s driven effort squeezed between the keeper and a upright to place Dortmund ahead again. BVB were awarded a PK late on from full-time, when Lloyd Kelly was punished for handball with the left-back netting from the spot. Late in injury time, Vlahovic netted a second from a pinpoint delivery before setting up for Kelly, who guided in the tying goal to cap a half to remember.
Upset Result for The Azerbaijani Side
The hosts surrendered an two-goal advantage to be defeated three-two at the Estadio da Luz to Qarabag, with the substitute scoring the Azerbaijani side’s decisive goal four minutes from the end.
The hosts seemed in control when Barrenechea put them ahead in the early stages with a neat finish from a corner and the striker fired on the spin to increase the advantage soon after later. Leandro Andrade blasted a one-time strike past the goalkeeper, though, and the away side almost to drawing level when Kady Borges struck the upright and Trubin made an superb save from Marko Jankovic’s follow-up effort.
Qarabag were level three minutes halftime when Camilo Durán ran on to a incisive through ball from the playmaker and drilled a first-time strike into the far corner but Qarabag were still pushing.
An ambitious clearance upfield from the shot-stopper reached Kashchuk on the edge of the box and he exchanged a give-and-go with Zoubir before placing a strike past Trubin to stun the Benfica faithful.
Additional Outcomes
- Union Saint-Gilloise celebrated a ideal first appearance in the Champions League league phase by stunning Eindhoven three-one in a intense Low Countries clash.
- Arsenal won a two-nil result at the Spanish side.
- Tottenham squeaked past Villarreal 1-0.
- Real Madrid came from behind to overcome Marseille 2-1.
