Lee Kang-in's PSG exit Champions League after 2-0 aggregate loss to Dortmund

Football

Published: 08 May. 2024, 10:59 Updated: 08 May. 2024, 17:54

Lee Kang-in's PSG exit Champions League after 2-0 aggregate loss to Dortmund

Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in, second from right, along with teammates Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele react as they walk off the pitch at the end of the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match against Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Lee Kang-in’s Paris Saint-Germain are out of a shot to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy, falling 2-0 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund after dropping the second semifinal leg 1-0 on Tuesday at Parc des Princes in Paris — ending their European journey at home.

It was a fast-paced and well-matched first half, though neither side found the back of the net and entered the break at 0-0.

Dortmund defender Mats Hummels pushed the aggregate to 2-0 in the 50th minute, heading in the ball from a Julian Brandt corner to give the German side even more breathing room as the Ligue 1 champions clamored for a comeback.

PSG needed to score on Tuesday to stay alive in the competition after Dortmund won the first leg 1-0 at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany last week.

And try they did, the Parisiens keeping possession for 70 percent of the game and making 30 shots on goal — the highest number of attempts in a Champions League knockout match without a successful shot in two decades, according to football statistics tracker OptaJose.

But every one of PSG’s attempts was denied, whether by Dortmund’s defense and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel or the woodwork — in the 47th minute, a Warren Zaire-Emery volley bouncing off the post; in the 61st minute, Nuno Mendes giving up a chance to the post’s top left; and in the 86th and 88th minutes, the crossbar coming to the rescue for the visitors as they hung onto their lead.

Lee, playing in his first Champions League semifinals, joined the effort in the 76th minute, replacing Zaire-Emery in the midfield but failing to help his side achieve what became an increasingly elusive win or draw.

PSG's Lee Kang-in in action during the Champions League semifinal second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. [AP/YONHAP]

PSG’s exit leaves Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae as the only Korean player still alive in this year’s tournament. Though it remains to be seen whether Kim will reach the final as Bayern face 14-time Champions League winners Real Madrid in the second leg of the semifinals with the score at 2-2 — and whether he will play, Kim shouldering the blame for giving up a late-game equalizer after his aggressive defending handed the La Liga champions a penalty.

Bayern Munich meet Real Madrid on Wednesday at 9 p.m. at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain.

Denied a shot at Champions League glory, PSG still have football left to play in the 2023-24 season, with three Ligue 1 matches remaining and the French Cup against Lyon on May 26. The Parisiens next face Toulouse on Sunday at Parc des Princes.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]