Jadon Sancho denied dream Dortmund Champions League return by Newcastle flop

20 February 2024 , 22:53

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Luuk de Jong scored PSV's equaliser from the penalty spot (Image: Getty Images)

Luuk de Jong netted a second-half penalty to stop Jadon Sancho from making a successful Champions League return with Borussia Dortmund.

The veteran striker stepped forward to equalise for PSV Eindhoven as the Manchester United loanee took another step on his road to professional redemption. Sancho has been playing in the Bundesliga since his switch from Old Trafford, but Edin Terzic chose to start him for the first leg of Dortmund’s Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night at the Philips Stadion.

The former England international showed flashes before being substituted but was overshadowed by ex-Newcastle United striker De Jong. The big frontman is enjoying the most prolific spell of his long career – and notched his 27th goal of a prolific campaign to leave this tie hanging in the balance.

PSV are unbeaten so far in the Eredivisie and gave the visitors a run for their money after feeling behind in the 24th minute. It was another ex-Manchester United man – Marcel Sabitzer – who was involved after Dortmund turned over possession deep inside the hosts’ half.

The ball was fed by the Austria international to Donyell Malen, who sped on the outside of two defenders and tried his luck from an acute angle. His shot took a deflection and defeated keeper Walter Benitez, going over the goalline via the underside of the crossbar.

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But PSV hit back shortly after the re-start. Mats Hummels challenged Malik Tillman as the midfielder broke into the area, initially winning the ball. But the centre-half caught his opponent on the follow-through – as de Jong kept his cool from 12 yards to level and put the tie on a knife edge going into the second leg.

"There's nothing between these two teams, I think they proved that tonight,” Glenn Hoddle said on TNT Sports. “PSV might have shaded it with the momentum that they had in the second half.”

Jadon Sancho didn't score for Borussia Dortmund (Rico Brouwer/Getty Images)

Sancho is still searching for his first goal since re-joining Dortmund on loan from United in January. He contributed two assists in his first two appearances back in the Bundesliga, but is yet to find the back of the net.

However, Malen's goal against his former club was his first in the Champions League knockout stages. The 25-year-old scored 55 goals in 116 games for PSV and refused to celebrate after opening the scoring.

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Neil Moxley