LISBON: RB Leipzig stunned Atletico Madrid, with a 2-1 victory in their Champions League quarter-final on Thursday, to reach the competition’s last four for the first time in their club’s short history.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, United States midfielder Tyler Adams snatched victory with a deflected shot from outside the box to set up a semi-final clash with Paris St Germain.

The German side had taken the lead in the 51st minute with a header from Spanish forward Dani Olmo but a disjointed Atletico were shaken into life when record signing Joao Felix came off the bench, earning and scoring a penalty to level in the 71st.

But Adams proved an unlikely hero for Leipzig, coming off the bench to snatch victory after his fired effort took a cruel deflection of Stefan Savic and flew in. It was the midfielder’s first goal for the club, and also made him the first American to score in the quarter-finals or later in the Champions League.

“When I came on I wanted to bring energy and help the team in any way possible,” Adams said. “Getting your first goal is a little bit unexpected for me. I’m not a typical goal scorer but I’m happy I could help the team.”

Atletico, runners-up in 2014 and 2016, looked more likely to score the next goal but it was the club founded only eleven years ago who were left celebrating in front of the empty seats of the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Now the team, built up from the lower leagues and owned by energy drinks company Red Bull, will come up against Neymar and company with a chance at a place in the August 23 final.

“Tonight we’re happy, tomorrow we’ll start looking at [PSG],” Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann said. “That will be another difficult game, but we’ll have a plan.”

Progress to the last four also puts another feather in the cap of their coach Julian Nagelsmann, whose stock will rise even further after ousting Diego Simeone, one of this competition’s most gnarly tacticians.

“I’m convinced that we gave everything we had,” Simeone said. “But it wasn’t enough. We have to raise our heads and try again next season.”

For Atletico and Simeone, this was an opportunity spurned to go far in Europe at the end of what has been a disappointing season in Spain.

Questions will be asked again about the future of Simeone, who has struggled to recreate an Atletico side capable of challenging for major honours.

His notoriously defensive approach, which saw off holders Liverpool in the last 16, looked outdated here against the slick, quick and free-flowing style of their opponents.

“It hurts a lot,” said Atletico’s Saul Niguez. “They had superiority in many areas on the pitch, inside, outside. Many times we were not even close to stopping them.”

As with all games in this ‘final eight’ mini-tournament, there were no fans to witness the drama but it was clear from the outset that Leipzig felt at home among European football’s elite.

Leipzig looked more dangerous than Atletico during most of the match at the José Alvalade Stadium. Neither team created many significant chances but Leipzig threatened the most with their quick passing and player movement up front.

Some of that fast action in front of the area led to Olmo’s close-range header after a cross from the right side.

Atletico improved after Portuguese forward Felix came off the bench in the second half, and he equalised from the penalty spot after being fouled inside the area.

Atlético seemed in control after equalising but couldn’t stop the late breakaway that ended the team’s title hopes again.

Adams, who entered the match in the 72nd, picked up a pass from the left side and sent a low right-footed shot that deflected off Savic and took goalkeeper Jan Oblak out of action.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2020