The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Punishing performance

Lewandowski scores four goals to lead Dortmund over Real

By Korea Herald

Published : April 25, 2013 - 20:06

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DORTMUND, Germany (AP) ― Borussia Dortmund followed Bayern Munich’s lead in upending a Spanish power.

Robert Lewandowski scored four goals to lead Dortmund over Real Madrid 4-1 Wednesday night in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.

“It was a royal evening for us,” Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Guendogan said, playing on “real,” the Spanish word for “royal.”

Bayern Munich routed Barcelona 4-0 a night earlier, making it likely Europe’s top club competition will have an all-German final for the first time. The second legs of the total-goals series are in Spain next week, with the winners meeting at London’s Wembley Stadium on May 25.

“We still have to go to Madrid. That won’t be a stroll in the park,” Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said.

Real Madrid, a nine-time winner, was favored against Dortmund, which won the Champions League for the only time in 1997.

Lewandowski opened the scoring in the eighth minute, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to tie the score with a tap-in in the 43rd after Gonzalo Higuain seized on Mats Hummels’ weak backpass. It Ronaldo’s 50th Champions League goal, including 12 this season.

Lewandowski beat an offside trap in the 50th for his second goal, running onto Marco Reus’ defense-splitting pass and tucking the ball past goalkeeper Diego Lopez. He made it 3-1 five minutes later when he eluded Pepe by dragging the ball back and scored from close range.

“The third goal was worth every cent ZDF and Sky give us,” Klopp said, referring to broadcast networks.

Lewandowski converted a penalty kick in the 67th after Xabi Alonso shoved Reus in the back and was called for the foul.

Lewandowski became just the second player to score four or more goals in the Champions League, joining Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, who had four against Arsenal in 2010 and five against Bayer Leverkusen last year.

“I could see there was one team on the pitch that was much better than the other. The better team definitely won,” Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said.

The second legs will be played in Madrid next Tuesday and in Barcelona the following day.