Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund LIVE: Updates as the UEFA ...

BRILLIANT BVB HIT THREE IN LISBON TO TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL OF TIE

Borussia Dortmund turned on the afterburners in the second half to blow Sporting CP away and race to a 3-0 away win in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie.

The home side, who started with star striker Viktor Gyokereson the bench due to an ongoing injury issue, enjoyed the better of the chances in a goalless first half, looking threatening on transition and hitting the bar with a terrific strike from Maximiliano Araujo.

But the momentum of the match swung hugely in Dortmund’s favour after the break, as the visitors took control of midfield and dominated proceedings, creating a number of chances early on in the second half.

Sporting introduced Gyokeres hoping for some inspiration, but the Swedish striker was an isolated figure as Dortmund continued to dominate and hit the home side with a swift double strike.

A beautiful cross from Julian Brandt was expertly headed home by Serhou Guirassy on the hour mark, and the Dortmund centre-forward turned provider eight minutes later as his superb whipped delivery was turned home by Pascal Gross.

Sporting went in search of a goal to keep themselves firmly in the tie, but it was Dortmund who struck again late on, this time with Brandt combining superbly on the counter with Karim Adeyemi, who made it 3-0 to prompt a mass exodus by the home fans into the late Lisbon evening.

Sporting have not won in the Champions League since the departure of Ruben Amorim to Manchester United but now must end that winless streak by a margin of four goals away at Dortmund if they are to stay in European competition this season. It is a tall ask for the return leg, which is scheduled for the early 17:45 kick-off slot on Wednesday 19 February.