Football
9y

'No question' Dortmund were lucky to beat Bayern in semi, Jurgen Klopp says

Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp admitted there was "no question" his side were lucky to defeat Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal semifinal on Tuesday night.

Dortmund advanced at the expense of the Bundesliga champions after Bayern failed to convert any of their four penalties.

Phillipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso both slipped in their run-ups, while Mario Gotze saw his shot saved and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer hit the bar.

"That was the game from hell," Klopp said. "We were lucky, no question about it."

The shootout was not the only instance in which case Dortmund were fortunate.

Early in the second half, Robert Lewandowski hit the bar and the ball bounced back to Thomas Muller, who tried to get by Marcel Schmelzer.

The Dortmund defender handled the ball but Bayern did not get the penalty call. "We were lucky there, but I am not apologising," Klopp said.

Klopp said Bayern put his team on the back foot early, but he was happy with their response after the break.

"Both teams gave it everything," Klopp said. "Bayern were far superior in the first half.

"Going in at half-time only 1-0 down is the best you can hope for when you play the way we did in the first half, but we more than deserved the equaliser in the second half.

Dortmund advance to play the winners of Wednesday's second semifinal between Wolfsburg and third-tier Arminia Bielefeld.

"It was meant to be today," Klopp said. "We're overjoyed about going through against these unbelievably strong opponents."

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