🔗 Share this article

It was thrilling inaugural round in the Champions League, featuring Juventus and Borussia Dortmund splitting eight second-half strikes as Qarabag stunned Benfica by fighting back.

Stoppage-Time Drama Earn Unbelievable Draw

Dusan Vlahovic and Lloyd Kelly netted in the dying moments to orchestrate a stunning recovery for the Turin side, helping them snatch a four-all share of the spoils in a encounter where each strike were scored post-half-time.

The hosts trailed by two goals when number nine scored his second of the night in the final moments of stoppage time and Lloyd Kelly sealed the fightback moments later to take a portion of the points.

Frenetic After the Break

Following a goalless initial period, BVB found the opening goal eight minutes after the restart as Karim Adeyemi drilled a well-placed shot into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area. The Italian team equalized in the second half through Yildiz, who gathered the ball on the edge of the danger zone, set himself and guided a superb shot into the net to delight the home support.

The excitement were short-lived, though, as Felix Nmecha gave back the visitors’ advantage almost instantly later with a clean first-time finish from range.

The action displayed no sign of slowing, and in the second half the Bianconeri were level once more, Vlahovic sprinting on to a expertly placed assist to slide past Gregor Kobel in Dortmund’s goal.

The madness persisted in the 74th minute, when Yan Couto’s driven strike trickled between Di Gregorio and a upright to put the Germans back in front. Dortmund were given a spot-kick with four minutes from the end, after Lloyd Kelly was called for handball with Bensebaini netting from the penalty spot. Deep into stoppage time, number nine struck a second from a pinpoint delivery before turning provider for the defender, who guided in the equaliser to cap a period to remember.

Surprise Result for Qarabag

The Portuguese giants squandered an early advantage to be defeated by a single goal at home to the underdogs, with Kashchuk netting the underdog team’s decisive goal four minutes from the end.

The hosts seemed in charge when the midfielder put them ahead in the sixth minute with a neat finish from a corner and Pavlidis struck on the spin to increase the advantage soon after later. Andrade hammered a instant effort past Trubin, however, and Qarabag came close to equalizing when the midfielder struck the woodwork and Trubin made an brilliant denial from Marko Jankovic’s second shot.

Qarabag were level three minutes after the interval when the forward burst on to a incisive pass from the playmaker and blasted a first-time effort into the far corner but Qarabag were far from finished.

A long clearance upfield from the Qarabag goalkeeper found the substitute on the edge of the penalty area and he exchanged a quick pass with the winger before curling a strike past the keeper to silence the Estadio da Luz.

Further Results

• The Belgian champions enjoyed a perfect bow in the tournament group stage by shocking Eindhoven three-one in a feisty Benelux derby.
• The London club won a comfortable victory at the Spanish side.
• Tottenham squeaked past the Yellow Submarine by a single goal.
• The Spanish giants recovered to defeat OM 2-1.