Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Atletico Madrid (5-4 aggregate): Man Utd flop books German giants’ spot in Champions League semi

JADON SANCHO’S Borussia Dortmund edged this topsy-turvy tie – thanks to a howitzer from old Man Utd pal Marcel Sabitzer.

Julian Brandt and Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen had put the hosts into a 2-0 half-time lead, putting them 3-2 up on aggregate.

But Diego Simeone’s half-time triple sub worked a charm and put Atletico back in the driving seat thanks to Mats Hummels‘ own goal and Angel Correa’s volley.

The drama and the goals kept coming though – just as they have across this thrilling round of quarter-finals.

And after Niclas Fullkrug had levelled the tie on aggregate, it was Sabitzer – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Old Trafford with Sancho – who won the day.

Sancho, himself farmed out by United after a falling-out with Erik ten Hag, did not get on the scoresheet but impressed before coming off on 86 minutes with the crowd roaring his name.

The goal-fest should have started earlier, but Sabitzer dilly-dallied when six yards out, allowing Cesar Azpilicueta to put in an heroic block before Alvaro Morata dinked wide.

Dortmund did get their noses in front on 34 minutes when Hummels’ delightful pass without the outside of his foot picked out Brandt, who buried it from a tight angle.

Atleti keeper Jan Oblak may have 200 clean sheets for the club over a magnificent decade’s service – but he was beaten too easily for this one.

One became two inside five minutes as Sabitzer laid the ball back for Maatsen to drive into the box and blast brilliantly low into the far corner.

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With his side sinking without trace, Simeone acted by making a hat-trick of half-time changes that included Correa coming on plus Azpilicueta and Morata making way.

And inside three minutes of the restart his team had levelled the tie 3-3 on aggregate as Mario Hermoso’s header from a corner hit Hummels studs and bobbled over the line.

Simeone hit the deck with his face dramatically buried in the turf as he reacted to Correa toe-poking agonisingly wide just before the hour.

Argentine Correa had his manager hugging staff in celebration seven minutes later though after magnificently volleying home off the bar after his initial shot had been blocked.

At that point, Atleti had gone from going out to going through.

But the tie turned on its head again as first Fullkrug flicked home a pristine header for the hosts, then Sabitzer unleashed a rocket of a left-foot shot too hot for Oblak to handle.

It set up a semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain – and boosted Germany‘s chances of beating England in the coefficient race for a fifth Champions League qualifying spot for next season’s competition.

Scroll down to see how the match unfolded…