English defender Lloyd Kelly scored a dramatic injury-time header to rescue a 4-4 draw for Juventus against Borussia Dortmund in a breathtaking Champions League encounter. The centre-back, who joined from Newcastle last summer, atoned for conceding a penalty earlier by heading home Dusan Vlahovic’s cross in the 96th minute.
The match erupted into life after halftime, with all eight goals coming in the second half—one of only two Champions League games ever to see such a scoring frenzy in a single half (following Bayern Munich’s 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb last season). The first half had been a cagey affair, with neither side able to break through.
“How do you comment on a match with eight goals in the second half? You tell me,” quipped Juventus manager Igor Tudor. “In football, it’s never over, and we did well to believe in ourselves until the end.” Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl added: “Two teams played outstandingly well in the second half. It was open and fantastic for the spectators. I’m actually satisfied with our performance, despite the final minutes.”
The second-half chaos began when Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring with a precise finish into the far corner. Juventus responded through Kenan Yildiz’s stunning long-range curler, only for Felix Nmecha to restore Dortmund’s lead with another elegant strike. Vlahovic then equalised one-on-one, but Dortmund surged ahead again through Yan Couto’s low drive and Ramy Bensebaini’s penalty—awarded after Kelly’s handball.
On the brink of defeat, Vlahovic struck a late effort off the woodwork before setting up Kelly for the decisive header, completing an unforgettable comeback. The draw keeps both teams in contention in the group stage, with fans left stunned by the sheer drama of the match.
Key Match Stats:
- Eight goals scored in the second half (51’ onwards)
- Lloyd Kelly scored the equaliser in the 96th minute
- Dortmund led three separate times before the final whistle
- Only the second Champions League match with eight goals in one half
The result leaves both sides with work to do in the group, but the match will be remembered as a modern classic. Will either team top the group? The drama continues…
Related Topics: Football, UEFA Champions League
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