Champions League semifinal: Dortmund survive Real comeback to reach final

German Giant Borussia Dortmund survived a spirited Real Madrid fightback to book their place in the Champions League final on Tuesday going through 4-3 on aggregate despite conceding two late goals to lose 2-0 at the Bernabeu.

Real looked down and out before late goals from substitute Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos gave them hope.But needing three goals to overturn the 4-1 deficit, Real left it too late for their comeback as Dortmund just held on to reach the final.
Benzema scored from close range in the 83rd minute and Ramos struck five minutes later but Dortmund survived some anxious moments during six minutes of injury time even as the Real fans were going wild in the stands.

Real Madrid Vs Dortmund

Jose Mourinho's Real side paid the penalty for missing so many chances in the opening 25 minutes before Dortmund settled.As the home side committed more men forward in the second half Dortmund also squandered several opportunities of their own.
Dortmund, the European champions in 1997 on their only appearance in the final, will play German rivals Bayern Munich or Barcelona in the May 25 showpiece at Wembley stadium.
Dortmund can thank Hummels for an excellent performance in keeping Real at bay for the majority of the game. Ronaldo did not have the best of nights. 

Real Madrid Striker's Ronaldo look upset  After the match was over

For all their effort, Real had nothing to show for the first half after being guilty of missing several chances. Ozil was especially guilty of wasting a great opportunity. Dortmund lost Gotze early on to apparent injury. 

Lewandowski did not have much of an impact under some tough defending from Ramos. A dejected Real manager Jose Mourinho said he may not remain as Real Madrid coach next season and plans to be "where people love me to be".But he was full of praise for the manner in which they fought back."I don't forget the first match when we were very, very bad and we have been punished for that, not for tonight.

"Today we were a team, with character and desire, and we could have done it."They had a couple of big chances but because of how we were playing at the end where we risked everything."

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos said: "It's a shame. Sometimes you lose, that is football. In Dortmund we should have played the way we did tonight. We feel for the fans. It's a shame to have been so close but the missed chances in the first half were costly."
Dortmund defender Mats Hummels was elated."Getting to a Champions League final is a dream come true for all of us. Especially at a famous stadium like Wembley," he said.

"It's unbelievable; something everyone in the team dreamed of since being an child. Some of us are still children. We are looking forward to Wembley.""We got the result we wanted in the end. We knew if they scored the crowd would get behind them."With Spanish King Juan Carlos watching from the VIP tribune and chants of "Yes we can!" echoing around Real's giant arena, the supporters unveiled an enormous mosaic depicting the Champions League trophy before kickoff.

Real's fired-up players took the game to Dortmund early on and Gonzalo Higuain drew a smart save from Roman Weidenfeller in the fourth minute.

Dortmund looked nervous but managed to get forward and Robert Lewandowski volleyed straight at Diego Lopez in the 13th minute before Cristiano Ronaldo had an almost identical chance moments later which Weidenfeller again did well to keep out.

After Dortmund playmaker Mario Goetze was forced off injured in the 14th minute, his Germany team mate Mesut Ozil had a golden chance to open Real's account when he was clean through on goal but his low strike flew narrowly wide of the post.

RESTLESS FANS

With Dortmund pressuring the Real players and denying them time on the ball, the home support began to get restless as the chances for the hosts started to dry up.

By halftime the Dortmund fans were starting to make themselves heard and the "Yes we cans!" seemed increasingly half-hearted.

As the second half began, Real's Portuguese coach Mourinho cut a worried-looking figure on the side of the pitch and striker Benzema immediately began to warm up.

Dortmund had two chances early in the second period and both fell to Lewandowski, who scored all four of the German side's goals in last week's 4-1 first leg victory.

The Poland forward struck a wild shot over the bar in the 49th minute and then raced clear onto a Marco Reus pass a minute later but smashed his effort against the crossbar.

Mourinho made a double substitution in the 57th minute when Benzema and Kaka replaced Higuain and Fabio Coentrao but it was Dortmund who looked more threatening by that stage.

Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez somehow managed to scramble across to deny Ilkay Guendogan who had the goal at his mercy and Lewandowski's shot was blocked by Michael Essien in the 76th.

Ozil crossed for Benzema to give Real a sliver of hope seven minutes from time and Ramos then smashed the ball into the roof of the net to set up a frantic finale but it was all too late.
 

Real Madrid 2 Borussia Dortmund 0

(Dortmund go through on aggregate 4-3)

GOALS

Benzema 82, Ramos 88

YELLOW CARDS

Real Madrid

Coentrao, Higuaín, Ramos, Khedira

Dortmund

Gündoğan, Bender, Weidenfeller