Germany defender Mats Hummels said
Borussia Dortmund are relishing their
Champions League last 16, second-leg,
clash at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in a
fortnight after Wednesday's 2-2 draw in
Ukraine.
Dortmund twice came from behind and were heading
towards their first European defeat of the season
before centre-back Hummels powered home from a
corner, three minutes from time.
However, Dortmund's impressive result will be
overshadowed by the deaths of five fans and 12
injured when a plane from Odessa, south Ukraine,
carrying 45 people crashed while landing at Donetsk
airport, just hours before kick-off. A minute's silence
was held as a mark of respect.
The draw means Dortmund are unbeaten in Europe
and Hummels said Dortmund have all to play for in
the second leg at Borussia's Signal Iduna Park on
March 5.
"It is important that we are going into the second leg
level and a 0-0 would see us through," said
Hummels. "Certainly there were a few dangerous
moments in defence, but against such an attack-
minded team you can never avoid this.
"We were twice behind, so that is a fantastic
consolation result."
Donetsk captain Darijo Srna's free-kick was cancelled
out by a first-half equaliser from Dortmund striker
Robert Lewandowski before Brazilian Douglas Costa
restored Shakhtar's advantage 22 minutes from
time.
Hummels' header puts Dortmund in pole position to
reach the quarter-finals for the second-leg at
Borussia's Signal Iduna Park stadium in a fortnight.
Having beaten Real Madrid, Manchester United and
Ajax to win Group D, Dortmund came perilously close
to joining current holders Chelsea in suffering defeat
at Shakhtar's notoriously tricky Donbass Arena.
"We were punished for a couple of defensive
mistakes, which was annoying," said Dortmund
coach Jurgen Klopp. "2-1 wouldn't have been a bad
result to take back to Dortmund, but the 2-2 was
very important for the team's mood before the
second leg."
Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu meanwhile said he
considered the draw a fair result.
"It's a pity to lose the lead in the last minutes but the
result seems to be fair," Lucescu said.
"Borussia are a very strong and well-organised team,
while we looked unimpressive in the beginning
because of lack of match practice.
"But the finals stages showed we are capable of
getting a positive result. In the next few weeks we
will try to improve on our fitness."
With reports in the German media Lewandowski is
set to join rivals Bayern Munich, Hans-Joachim
Watzke said they are confident of offering the Poland
star a deal which will seal him extend his contract
past June 2014.
"Nothing has been decided and we are still
confident," said Dortmund's chief executive officer.