Hummels seals Champions League final place for Dortmund as PSG crash out

On a certain night, Borussia Dortmund created one of their best moments in history, with a team that didn't have many well-known players achieving something truly remarkable.

This season, they have been consistently underestimated, especially when they were placed in the daunting Champions League group. However, they were able to emerge victorious with ease, surpassing Paris Saint-Germain, Milan, and Newcastle.

Atlético Madrid were expected to be too strong for their opponents in the quarter-finals after they defeated PSV Eindhoven in the last 16. However, they were proven wrong once again. Similarly, PSG were predicted to turn the tide and triumph over their opponents after losing the first leg of this semi-final by a score of 1-0.

Dortmund is not doing very well in their home country and are currently in fifth place in the Bundesliga. However, something changes in them whenever they participate in this competition, and this was especially evident when they played at the Parc des Princes. Dortmund looked like the kings of the game, even though they have had difficulty taking the final step in the past decade. They shocked PSG with their unity and willingness to defend their goal at all costs.

Luck was on their side. It was expected to happen at this exciting location. In the previous game, PSG had hit the post twice. This time, they almost did it four times during the second half where they gave it everything they had against Dortmund. The show was truly amazing.

Mats Hummels scored the crucial goal for Dortmund, using his head to direct the ball into the net from a corner after half-time. Hummels has been a long-serving member of the team and was part of the squad that reached the Champions League final in 2013, although they were defeated by Bayern Munich at Wembley. Dortmund have now secured their place in the final once again and there is a possibility that they may face Bayern, who are currently level with Real Madrid at 2-2 in the other semi-final, with the second leg taking place on Wednesday night.

When the final whistle blew, Dortmund's celebrations erupted like a firework display. The players rushed over to the corner flag where their fans were stationed, and there was an overwhelming sense of excitement in the air. The players bounced around in front of their fans for a long time, not wanting the moment to end. Now, the team's focus will be on matching their Class of 97 predecessors, including Matthias Sammer, Paul Lambert, Karl-Heinz Riedle, and Lars Ricken, who beat Juventus and secured the club's only European Cup.

Dortmund was really happy while PSG was really sad. Luis Enrique's team already won the Ligue 1 title and they will be playing against Lyon in the French Cup Finals. They were hoping for a treble win. The team looks different now, and they no longer focus on individual players like Lionel Messi and Neymar, instead they prioritize the group's effort. But, Kylian Mbappé, their best player, is leaving in the summer, and their hope of giving him a dream send-off has failed.

Last summer, Luis Enrique was appointed by Nasser al-Khelaifi, the PSG president, who had stated that the Champions League was no longer their main focus and that they aimed to create a new identity and culture for the team. The loss in the competition must have hurt everyone at the club, including al-Khelaifi, and the fans still offered their support to the players despite the defeat. However, PSG still struggles to dominate and win the Champions League as they desire.

In the first half of the game, PSG had a hard time getting past the yellow wall created by the Dortmund players. They were closely defending their spaces and moving in unison. The coach, Edin Terzic, had instructed his players not to give any opportunities in the middle field. With the great defense by Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck leading the way, PSG struggled to create any significant chances before the break.

During the game, PSG seemed to be in a hurry whenever they had a chance to make a final pass or take a shot. In the 31st minute, Ousmane Dembélé made an attempt at the goal, but it was not successful. This was the closest that PSG came to scoring in the first half, but it was not a very close try as Dembélé's positioning could have been better.

There was a nagging feeling that Dortmund might make a comeback. They were calm with the ball, especially Julian Brandt, and Jadon Sancho had some good moments too. They nearly scored at the 36-minute mark when Mbappé missed a half chance. However, Karim Adeyemi quickly ran down the field and took a shot which Gianluigi Donnarumma saved with his left hand.

PSG struggled to control the game. Warren Zaïre-Emery almost scored after the halftime break, hitting the post with a shot from a difficult angle when he had a clear shot at the goal after a pass from Mbappé. Later in the game, Marquinhos made a careless pass which resulted in a corner for the opposing team. This set the stage for Hummels to score. Unfortunately, none of PSG's defenders marked Brandt's corner well enough. Lucas Beraldo, the nearest defender to Hummels, was too far away to make a difference.

The PSG team played with intense emotions, fueled by a sense of urgency. Gonçalo Ramos missed a couple of opportunities to score, while Nuno Mendes' powerful shot hit the far post. The game wasn't going in PSG's favor, and this feeling intensified when Hummels committed a foul on Dembélé at the edge of the area. Despite the possibility of a penalty, the referee, Daniele Orsato, awarded a free-kick instead.

The game was incredibly intense. Mbappé and Vitinha almost scored in the final moments, hitting the crossbar with their shots. Dortmund possesses an unexplainable force that propels them forward. They have their sights set on achieving the most prestigious award.