Football
ESPN staff 7y

Julian Weigl on first goal for Dortmund: 'I'm not really sure what I did'

Julian Weigl said he was "ecstatic" to score his first professional goal for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday -- even if he's not quite sure how his strike found the net.

The 21-year-old unleashed a long-range blast two minutes before half-time to double Dortmund's lead at Sporting Lisbon, and it held up to be the difference in a 2-1 win.

The Germany midfielder is in his second season as a regular starter for Dortmund but had never before managed to score, and he said he was pleased to secure the three points.

"I am not really sure what I did for the goal. I am ecstatic that I finally found the back of the net," Weigl said. "The manager keeps saying we have got to take our chances, and I managed that tonight.

"Sporting showed fight though in attempting to get themselves back into the game. But we gave our all, and we are happy that we made it over the line to win the game 2-1."

Thomas Tuchel's starting XI featured three teenagers in Ousmane Dembele, Felix Passlack and Christian Pulisic, but the Dortmund coach said he was proud of how they handled Sporting's late pressure.

"Today a young and inexperienced team played with such self-confidence during the first half," the manager said.

"Sporting took big risks after our two goals. It is normal to come under pressure. After scoring to make it 1-2, their fans got louder. My players did not want to give up and I credit them for this important victory."

Dortmund and Real Madrid are now level on seven points in Group F and four points clear of Sporting, but their coach Raul Jose retained hope his side can advance.

"We still managed to create a few chances in the first half, but we were not has aggressive as we should have been and we let our opponents score twice," he said.

"In the second half we were stronger, we played more aggressively and, with a little bit of luck, we could have got at least a draw.

"In the Champions League details are what matter and that was what made the difference today. I believe that we are still in contention for a place in the next stage and I believe we can get a win in Germany."

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