Borussia Dortmund suffer late VAR heartache as Atalanta come through Champions League knockout play-off classic after controversial penalty award

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A stoppage-time penalty from Lazar Samardzic propelled Atalanta into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, sealing a breathless 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund and a 4-3 aggregate triumph. Ramy Bensebaini saw red after his studs struck Nikola Krstovic in the penalty area, and Samardzic calmly converted the spot-kick. Watch the last 16 draw on Friday, live on TNT Sports.

Highlights: Late penalty sees Atalanta through on night of drama

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Borussia Dortmund were knocked out of this season's UEFA Champions League after a late VAR penalty settled a pulsating play-off tie 4-3 on aggregate in Atalanta's favour on Wednesday.

Just 24 hours after Inter were eliminated by Bodo/Glimt, hopes of another Serie A club progressing to the last 16 looked forlorn following Atalanta's 2-0 defeat by Dortmund in the first leg last week.

But goals from Gianluca Scamacca, Davide Zappacosta and Mario Pasalic turned the tie on its head. It was only then that Dortmund bared their claws, as Karim Adeyemi's 75th-minute strike appeared to take the game to extra time.

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With barely seconds of the allotted three additional minutes at the end of normal time to be played, Atalanta staged one last attack which would ultimately prove the defining moment that would decide a classic contest in Bergamo.

Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel could do little more than glance Pasalic's looping delivery with his fingertips, inadvertently diverting it into the path of Nikola Krstovic.

Although Ramy Bensebaini reacted sharply to hook the loose ball behind for a corner, his follow-through caught Krstovic high, his boot connecting with the striker’s head in the process.

Drama as Atalanta awarded last-gasp penalty after ‘risky’ challenge leaves Krstovic bloodied

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Commentating for TNT Sports, Gary Taphouse said: "Look at the blood pouring from his forehead. The referee initially pointed for a corner, but it's a very risky challenge indeed."

Dortmund midfielder Emre Can could then be seen gesticulating with Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez, arguing that Krstovic had ducked down to meet the ball in an attempt to score, rather than it being a high boot from his team-mate.

"This is going to be a momentous moment in the context of the tie," added Taphouse, as the verdict was given. "All eyes on Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez as he is sent to the screen. I mean, he kicks him right in the forehead. It's an extraordinary piece of defending."

Can's case went unheard, however, as after consulting a pitchside monitor and reviewing the incident with VAR Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez, the initial decision was overturned and Atalanta were awarded a dramatic late penalty.

'Dortmund in disarray' - Pasalic heads home as Atalanta continue 'astonishing turnaround'

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That was just the start of Dortmund's protests, as substitute Nico Schlotterbeck was shown a straight red card for dissent, while Bensebaini was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Atalanta's Giorgio Scalvini, who had been substituted by the time of the incident, was also shown a straight red card before play was allowed to resume.

With the final kick of the game, Lazar Samardzic produced the perfect penalty, spearing his spot-kick high into the roof of the net beyond Kobel to spark wild scenes in the home end and set up a last-16 tie against either Bayern Munich or Arsenal.

La Dea drew with Mikel Arteta's side 0-0 during the league phase of last season's competition.

It means Atalanta have now won three of their seven previous European two-legged ties in which they lost the first leg - but this is the first time they have overcome a two-goal first-leg deficit.

WATCH: Adeyemi stunner draws Dortmund level at 3-3 on aggregate in thrilling tie with Atalanta

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Indeed, they are the first side to overturn a two-goal first leg deficit in a Champions League knockout tie since Liverpool progressed past Barcelona in the 2018/19 semi-final.

Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino told UEFA: "It's an unforgettable night, a dream come true. I want to thank every single one of my players, my staff and everyone at the club.

"And a special thanks to the 23,000 fans who pushed us from the first minute to the last - it was truly incredible. We put everything into this performance: heart, soul, spirit and courage. We played an Atalanta-style match, and that’s why we’re so happy with what we achieved tonight."

According to Opta, Dortmund are just the second German side to be eliminated from a two-legged Champions League knockout tie when winning the first leg by two or more goals, after Wolfsburg against Real Madrid in the 2015/16 quarter-finals.

Nerveless Samardzic penalty sends Atalanta into last 16 after ‘extraordinary’ comeback

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Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said: "First of all, congratulations to Atalanta. They played like we did in the first leg, and unfortunately we were not able to express our football beyond the goal. It was a very difficult game where we made far too many mistakes and, in the Champions League, you pay for those errors."

Captain Can told DAZN "When you concede four goals in the play-offs, it's going to be difficult to advance. We also had several clear-cut opportunities that we didn't convert. It hurts terribly."

How does the UEFA Champions League last 16 draw work?

The last 16 of the UEFA Champions League sees the eight play-off winners facing the sides who finished in the top eight in the league phase.

The top-eight finishers have been paired into seeded couplets and each know four, or three, teams (which will be reduced to two following the play-off round) they could face in the last-16 draw.

Barcelona and Chelsea will be drawn against either the winners of Monaco v PSG or Newcastle
Liverpool and Spurs will be drawn against either the winners of Galatasaray v Juventus or Atletico Madrid
Sporting and Man City will be drawn against either the winners of Benfica v Real Madrid or Bodo/Glimt
Arsenal and Bayern Munich will be drawn against either Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen

Friday’s draw will reveal the last-16 ties and also allocate a side of the bracket for every team so they know who they could potentially meet in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

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