Adeyemi magic is bad news for Blues
Potter’s Chelsea show fight but come up short
THE famous Yellow Wall was at its formidable and imposing best last night. For the most part, so was the blue wall. The spine-tingling rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone from the unmistakable Sudtribune here at Signal Iduna Park before kick-off was captivating and intense in equal measure.
For so long, Chelsea held firm in this most raucous of atmospheres. In the end, however, they simply could not legislate for Karim Adeyemi. No one could.
It took 63 minutes for the moment of this match to arrive. When it did, it was unforgettable.
Picking up the ball on the edge of his own area, the Borussia Dortmund forward flicked on the afterburners. Seconds later, he was powering past Enzo Fernandez, rounding Kepa Arrizabalaga and firing the Germans ahead.
It was one of those take-yourbreath-away moments. Faces contorted and beer flying, the locals went mad.
So did Graham Potter, whose team were in the ascendancy in the moments before Adeyemi’s brilliant intervention. His defence, in particular, can leave Germany with their heads held high.
Marshalled expertly, yet again, by the evergreen Thiago Silva, the Blues back-four were brave and combative.
Adeyemi’s goal took the gloss off their performance. But they head into the second leg of this Champions League tie with tangible hope of progressing. They’d have taken that before kick-off.
There were times in the first half when Chelsea were clinging on. The start from Dortmund was menacing, an opening bursting with speed and intent, their 11 attempts to Chelsea’s four by the time Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano blew up for half-time illustrative of the pattern for much of the opening 45 minutes.
Jude Bellingham controlled the tempo of this game like a puppet master. He would calmly take the sting out of proceedings one second before injecting a burst of pace with a driving run forward the very next. It beggars belief that he’s not 20 until June.
His battle against Chelsea’s British record signing Fernandez was particularly intriguing. Fernandez’s quality in possession and work-rate shone through, even when Chelsea’s backs were against the wall.
If Blues co-owner Todd Boehly has his way, Bellingham and Fernandez will be on the same team next season. That is a truly frightening prospect.
Yet, for all of Dortmund’s early dominance, Potter’s side probably should have entered half-time with the lead. That would have been harsh on Dortmund. They were largely the protagonists here. But credit to Chelsea for standing united in the face of early adversity.
Had Joao Felix not struck the crossbar when he really should have scored after Kai Havertz’s rapid break down field, then Chelsea would have received maximum reward for hanging tough. In fact, Felix was guilty of squandering Chelsea’s other genuine opportunity of the half following excellent work from Hakim Ziyech, while captain Silva was booked for diverting the ball into the net with his hand after Reece James’ free-kick.
Chelsea had to ride their luck at times. Adeyemi missed a giltedged chance in the 26th minute while Sebastien Haller rippled the side netting soon after.
Chelsea hearts were in their mouths on the stroke of half-time when Marius Wolf’s vicious effort flashed narrowly past Arrizabalaga’s far post.
Following a torrid season so far, this 45 minutes provided Potter with some optimism. How he has needed that burst of positivity of late. This was the Chelsea manager’s first taste of Champions League knockout football. Ultimately, it is in this competition where he’ll be judged. He was making a decent start here.
After the break, Ben Chilwell saw an effort blocked before Emre Can had no option but to upend James on the edge of the area after the England international’s powerful run through the very heart of Dortmund. The resultant free-kick, struck sweetly by James, required an alert Gregor Kobel to palm to safety in the 55th minute.
Prior to that, Bellingham, already on a yellow card, was fortunate not to receive a second booking for a clumsy challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
The early rhythm in Dortmund’s game had disappeared. All of a sudden, Fernandez was getting the better of Bellingham in midfield, while the wide threat of Julian Brandt, a constant thorn in the first half, had vanished.
But then Adeyemi stepped forward. Chelsea were on the attack, they’d committed all but Fernandez in search of the opener.
They were punished with ruthless efficiently for doing so.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-3-3): Kobel 7; Wolf 6 (Ryerson 73min, 6), Sule 7, Schlotterbeck 7, Guerreiro 7; Bellingham 7.5, Can 7, Ozcan 6.5; ADEYEMI 8.5 (Bynoe-Gittens 79), Haller 6.5 (Modeste 68, 6), Brandt 7. Scorer: Adeyemi 63. Booked: Can, Bellingham, Ozcan, Adeyemi, Sule, Ryerson. Manager: Edin Terzic 7. CHELSEA (4-4-2): Kepa 6.5; James 7.5, Koulibaly 7, Silva 8, Chilwell 7 (Mount 71, 6); Ziyech 6.5, Loftus-Cheek 6.5, Fernandez 7.5, Mudryk 6.5 (Cucurella 71, 6); Felix 6.5, Havertz 6.5. Booked: James, Silva, Ziyech, Mount. Manager: Graham Potter 6.5. Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Sp) 6.5. Attendance: Not provided.