Pierre Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick to win the game for Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League overturning a 1-0 deficit from the first leg against Benefica to win the tie 4-1 on aggregate. Playing at the Signal Iduna Park, the home team defeated the Portuguese champions Benfica 4-0 in the match. Dortmund thus progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the third time in six seasons.

Dortmund started the game without the injured Marco Reus with Thomas Tuchel preferring a trio of Dembele, Aubameyang and Pulisic up front.

Talismatic Pierre Emerick Aubameyang scored the first goal of the game in the 4th minute with a header on a corner. Pulisic’s header met the unmarked Aubameyang at the far end of goal and he did not disappoint with his finish. Both the teams kept the pressure on the opponent team with their high pressing games in the first half. A penalty appeal for an off-the-ball foul on Aubameyang was rejected just before the half-time. Both the teams were tied 1-1 on aggregate going into the half-time as no other goals were scored in the first half.

Dortmund defended well throughout the game and were reluctant to give Benfica any shooting opportunities on the goal

In the second half. two goals in two minutes from Dortmund took the match away from the Portuguese side. USA international Christian Pulisic scored from an audacious chip, his first goal in the Champions League. Lukasz Piszczek was the assist provider for the 18-year old via a through ball in the 59th minute. Aubameyang scored off a cross from Marcel Schmelzer in the 61st minute to make it 3-0 (3-1 on aggregate) for the home side.

Dortmund had several other opportunities in the second half and they kept testing Benfica’s defence. Defender Marc Bartra’s header off a corner hit the goalpost in the 84th minute. Aubameyang then completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute, driving home a cross from Pulisic, to make it 4-0. The match ended at 4-0 and Dortmund progressed to the next knock-out stage on a 4-1 aggregate scoreline.