CNN
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American youth Tyler Adams scored a late winner to beat Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig in the Champions League semi-finals on Thursday.
The 21-year-old’s deflected shot in the 88th minute was enough to restore the German club’s lead. of Joao Felix A penalty had denied Dani Olmo’s opener.
RB Leipzig, in its current form, was founded just 11 years before Red Bull’s billionaire founder took over German fifth-division SSV Markranstadt and the team has been climbing the football ladder ever since.
It now has the chance to add another chapter to its remarkable story when it faces PSG in the semi-finals on Tuesday – after the French champions staged a stunning late comeback to beat Atalanta 2-1 on Wednesday.
“Great feelings for the club and our team. As a manager you have to wait,” 33-year-old RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann told BT Sport after the match.
“We have to prepare for the next match. Not much time to celebrate but maybe we have a beer at the hotel so we focus on PSG.
“The club (RB Leipzig) has been developing very quickly since then. We reached the Bundesliga and qualified for the Champions League three times. We are still in the Champions League. Progress is faster than usual.”
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Atletico Madrid may have been slight favorites going into the game against their German rivals, but the Spanish outfit failed to impress.
It may have played without forward Angel Correa and defender Sime Vrsaljkoho, who both tested positive for the coronavirus, but had enough experience on the pitch to perform better.
Felix’s second-half introduction gave Atletico renewed impetus, but the 20-year-old’s converted penalty ultimately came to nothing.
With the match seemingly destined for extra-time, Adams’ speculative late shot deflected off Stefan Savic to end the tie on 90 minutes – sending RB Leipzig into its first Champions League semi-final.
Adams, who led the U.S. Has played 10 times for the national team, moved to Leipzig from New York Red Bulls in January 2019. His first goal for the club made him the first American to score in a Champions League quarter-final.
“Now it’s about recovering properly, getting myself mentally right and working on the game plan,” Adams told BT Sport after the game.
“We have confidence in ourselves, you saw it today.”
