Dortmund Score Twice To Earn Draw In Donetsk


Mats Hummels scored right at the death for Borussia Dortmund in the Ukraine to earn the German champions a 2-2 draw with Shakhtar Donetesk in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash.

The Ukranian side went into the game having not played a competitive game since the end of the group stage in December, but were still able to put in a performance of quality and will be disappointed to have let their lead slip so late.

Jakub Blaszczykowski was involved for Dortmund early on as the German side looked to make an early impression, but two efforts from the Pole within the opening 10 minutes narrowly missed the target before Robert Lewandowski went close with a header.

The away team saw another headed effort go close to opening the scoring when Hummels struck the crossbar with 17 minutes on the clock.

It was an understandably slow start for a side deep in the midst of a winter break, but Shakhtar eventually found their feet and then found themselves in front after 31 minutes when Darijo Srna hit a sumptuous freekick past Roman Weidenfeller.

Dortmund only took 10 minutes to find themselves level, as Mario Gotze crossed for Lewandowski who was able to bamboozle two defenders with an air kick before slotting past Andrei Pyatov.

The second half saw Dortmund continue to dominate but Shakhtar were not to be denied and struck a second goal in the 68th minute when Hummels misjudged a long ball and allowed substitute Douglas Costa to clinically finish past Weidenfeller.

Lewandowski went close to his second equaliser of the night soon after thanks to some more effective combination play with Gotze, but it was Hummels who made yet another mark on the night with a headed equaliser 3 minutes from time.

It was certainly deserved based on the run of play and leaves Dortmund in a seemingly commanding position going into the second leg.

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