The Trentonian (Trenton, NJ)

Man City, Real Madrid round out CL semis

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DORTMUND, GERMANY » Pep Guardiola shared an emotional moment with goalscorer Phil Foden as Manchester City ended its run of failure in the Champions League quarterfin­als Wednesday, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 for a 4-2 aggregate win.

Guardiola reached the semifinals with City at the fifth attempt, matching the club’s best ever result under his predecesso­r Manuel Pellegrini in 2016. Guardiola said Tuesday he expected to be labeled “a failure” if Dortmund became the fourth club in a row to eliminate City in a Champions League quarterfin­al.

Dortmund’s 17-year-old English midfielder Jude Bellingham put the German club on course for a comeback when he scored in the 15th minute after City defender Ruben Dias blocked Mahmoud Dahoud’s shot. That leveled the aggregate score 2-2, with Dortmund ahead on away goals.

But City laid siege to the Dortmund goal, with Kevin De Bruyne hitting the crossbar. Dortmund handed City the breakthrou­gh early in the second half when Emre Can gave away a penalty by heading a cross onto his arm. Riyad Mahrez put City back in control when he blasted the spot kick into the top right, past stand-in goalkeeper Marwin Hitz.

REAL MADRID 0, LIVERPOOL 0 LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND »

Real Madrid secured its return to the Champions League semifinals after a two-season absence by holding Liverpool to a draw, protecting a 3-1 advantage from the first leg.

Liverpool created chance after chance but Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane could find no way past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and a makeshift defense that stifled a front three that has endured a season of frustratio­n.

A scene of many memorable European comebacks, Anfield lacked the fans who have so often inspired Liverpool in similar situations.

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