Real Madrid survive Borussia Dortmund scare to reach Champions League semi-finals
Real Madrid survive Borussia Dortmund scare to reach Champions League semi-finals
Real Madrid reached the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday despite losing 2-0 (3-2 aggregate) at Borussia Dortmund in their second leg match.

Germany: Real Madrid reached the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday after losing 2-0 at Borussia Dortmund but finishing up with a 3-2 victory on aggregate.

Playing without star striker Cristiano Ronaldo due to a left-knee injury, Madrid could afford to miss an early penalty and still go through against last season's runner-up thanks to their 3-0 home victory in the first leg last week.

Marco Reus scored in the 24th and 37th minutes, and Dortmund wasted several excellent opportunities in the second half, including a shot against the post.

Nine-time champion Madrid reached the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive season. The Spanish side has lost in the semi-finals for the past three years - being eliminated last season by Dortmund.

In Tuesday's other match, 2012 champion Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 in west London to reach the last four on the away goals rule after a 3-3 draw on aggregate.

In Dortmund, Lukasz Piszczek conceded a penalty when he accidentally handled the ball after a cross from Fabio Coentrao in the 17th minute. Angel Di Maria took the spot kick but Roman Weidenfeller dived to his left and saved the shot.

At the other end, Henrikh Mkhitaryan shot wide although unchallenged from near the penalty spot.

Reus opened the scoring after a botched attempt by Pepe to head a long ball back to Iker Casillas. The Madrid keeper mistimed his approach and Reus chipped the ball past him before slotting home.

Reus doubled the lead after another mistake by Madrid as it tried to move the ball forward. Reus passed to Robert Lewandowski, whose shot hit the post, but Reus was there to drive the rebound into the roof of the net.

Reus nearly made it 3-0 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate with a long-range volley, while Casillas also made a good save from Mats Hummels' header in the 32nd.

For Madrid, Karim Benzema narrowly failed to connect with a low ball from Gareth Bale at the far post in the 59th minute. Moments later, Benzema had claims for a penalty denied after contact with Hummels.

Dortmund could easily have leveled the tie in the 65th, when Reus put through Mkhitaryan, who rounded Casillas but shot against the post from an acute angle.

Casillas then saved two more attempts from the Armenian.

Weidenfeller made a good late save from Benzema, after the France striker had turned two Dortmund defenders in the 80th.

Madrid had some late chances but failed to find the net for the first time after a record run of 34 Champions League matches with at least one goal scored.

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