Prime News Ghana

Champions League: Haraldsson earns Lille first-leg draw at Dortmund

By Primenewsghana
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Hakon Haraldsson scored the equaliser as Lille fought back to earn a draw at Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Dortmund had taken the lead through a brilliant strike from Karim Adeyemi in a first half in which last season’s runners-up were by far the superior side.

But Haraldsson’s goal during Lille’s much-improved showing after the break put the tie in the balance before the return leg in France on Wednesday, 12 March (17:45 GMT).

The game lacked spark in the early stages but Adeyemi produced a moment of brilliance after 22 minutes to score from a corner and put Dortmund ahead.

Julian Ryerson’s delivery was met by Lille defender Alexsandro Ribeiro but his weak headed clearance fell for Adeyemi, who planted a sublime half-volley from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.


Niko Kovac’s side had the ball in the back of the net from a corner again before the break, but the visitors were saved by the assistant referee’s raised flag for offside when Pascal Gross turned in from close range.

Lille were barely given a look-in by the Dortmund defence in the first half and the closest they went to scoring was when Thomas Meunier exchanged passes with Haraldsson before firing into the side-netting.

The French side, however, were far more lively in the second period and deservedly secured the draw when Iceland midfielder Haraldsson ran on to a through ball from Jonathan David and poked past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel while off-balance.

Lille substitute Andre Gomes was lucky to escape a late red card for an awful challenge which forced Daniel Svensson off with an injury as the visitors held on.