The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Paris, France | AFP | Danny Welbeck’s controversial penalty and a Gianluigi Donnarumma howler helped Arsenal beat AC Milan in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday 5-1 on aggregate, while Borussia Dortmund slumped to a shock exit at the hands of Salzburg.
The 3-1 win on the night eases some of the pressure on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, although his team’s 2-0 first-leg lead looked precarious when Hakan Calhanoglu fired Milan ahead.
But Gennaro Gattuso’s visitors were left incensed when Welbeck tumbled to the floor under little to no contact from Ricardo Rodriguez, with the spot-kick apparently given by the official on the byline.
We’ve completed our Italian Job ✅
And that means we’re through to the Europa League quarter-final ? pic.twitter.com/ogPYR9MQwl
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) March 15, 2018
The forward picked himself up to send Donnarumma the wrong way, and leave the infuriated Milan players demonstrating with the officials.
“When I watch the penalty, I will give you an honest answer (whether Welbeck dived),” Wenger told BT Sport.
“It was good to see a response from the team at 1-0 down. I don’t want to accuse Danny Welbeck of diving before I see it again.”
Seven-time European champions Milan piled on the pressure in the second half, only for their hopes to be ended when Donnarumma allowed Granit Xhaka’s speculative 71st-minute strike to slip through his grasp and bobble into the net.
Welbeck nodded in his second late on as Arsenal reached their first European quarter-final since 2010, after seven consecutive Champions League last-16 defeats.
Not seen the goals from #AFCvACM yet? Or just want to watch them again? Either way – they’re right here for you ?https://t.co/Ga9GxajJN0
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) March 16, 2018
Borussia Dortmund bowed out of the tournament, though, with a tame goalless draw in Austria sealing their fate.
After falling to a shock 2-1 loss in the first leg at home, the German giants failed to break down their stubborn opponents, who will play in the last eight of a continental competition for the first time since losing the 1994 UEFA Cup final to Inter Milan.
CSKA Moscow stunned last season’s semi-finalists Lyon, with a 3-2 victory in France ending the Ligue 1 club’s hopes of reaching May’s final at their own Groupama Stadium.
The Russian away side wiped out Lyon’s first-leg one-goal lead before half-time through Aleksandr Golovin, although Maxwel Cornet equalised for Bruno Genesio’s hosts.
But two goals in five minutes swung the tie in CSKA’s favour, as Ahmed Musa struck on the hour mark and Pontus Wernbloom made it 3-2 on aggregate.
Mariano Diaz gave Lyon hope, but CSKA held on to progress on away goals.
