Adeyemi solo strike earns Dortmund win over Chelsea

Borussia Dortmund snatched a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on Wednesday night courtesy of Karim Adeyemi’s superb goal to extend their winning run this year. Germany international Adeyemi sprinted more than 60 metres and slotted home against the run of play to give his team the advantage going into the return leg in London on March 7."We dominated the first half. They had chances but we were in control for the majority of the first half,” said Dortmund captain Jude Bellingham. "In the second half we took the foot off the gas and they had more control. We showed how well we can defend and see out games.”Big-spending Chelsea’s inefficiency in front of goal has been an issue for the Premier League club this season and they have registered only one win in 2023. They missed a number of good chances against Dortmund, including hitting the woodwork through Joao Felix, but failed to find an equaliser.They looked sharper at the start of the game and Thiago Silva put the ball in the net after 16 minutes, but the Chelsea captain was penalised for a handball after he had tried to head in a cross. Dortmund gradually found more space and hit the side netting through Sebastien Haller in the 27th minute.The visitors, who spent more than $350mn on transfers during the winter window to bring in eight players, responded with two big chances of their own to Felix, with the Portuguese also hitting the crossbar after beating Kobel. Both teams had to wait until the second half to get their first shots on target, with Kobel punching a powerful Reece James free kick wide and his Chelsea counterpart, Kepa Arrizabalaga, stopping Julian Brandt’s low drive.But with Chelsea pushing for a goal and forcing another fine Kobel save, it was Dortmund who struck after 63 minutes. Adeyemi picked up a clearance from a Chelsea corner and raced half the length of the pitch before beating Fernandez in the sprint and rounding Kepa to score.The hosts had to survive late scares, with Kalidou Koulibaly’s shot cleared off the line by Emre Can and Kobel again denying Fernandez deep in stoppage time with a great save before the German side secured their seventh consecutive win.Benfica beat BruggeJoao Mario’s second-half penalty and a late goal from David Neres gave Benfica a 2-0 win over Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Belgium on Wednesday, leaving the Portuguese club with a major advantage for next month’s return. Joao Mario’s 51st-minute spot kick came after Benfica had spurned a host of good opportunities as they dominated the away encounter and ensured they have a lead to defend at home in the return in Lisbon on March 7.The penalty was awarded after Brugge’s Scottish defender Jack Hendry had brought down Goncalo Ramos in a clumsy challenge.Neres took advantage of a defensive slip to tuck away the second goal in the 88th minute. Brugge defender Bjorn Meijer failed to clear and substitute Neres stole in to take possession and score.