Football

Monaco dream on

Monaco's players acknowledge the public after Monaco defeated Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League 2nd leg quarter-final football match AS Monaco v BVB Borussia Dortmund on April 19, 2017 at the Louis II stadium in Monaco. Photo: AFP

A brilliant Monaco side that has taken Europe by storm will not relent in their bid for glory after beating Borussia Dortmund to reach the Champions League semifinals, promised coach Leonardo Jardim.

The team from the Mediterranean principality were too good for their German opponents in Wednesday's quarterfinal second leg, winning 3-1 at the Stade Louis II to advance 6-3 on aggregate.

"We have won nothing, but we have made history," declared Portuguese coach Jardim after the game, as his side extended a run that began in the third qualifying round against Fenerbahce last July, nine months ago.

Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe, skipper Radamel Falcao and substitute Valere Germain got their goals with Marco Reus netting for Dortmund on a memorable night for the hosts.

The last team to come through two qualifying rounds to reach the semifinals of the Champions League was Dynamo Kiev in 1999, although the format was different in those days.

Nobody expected Monaco -- conquerors of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the last round -- to get this far but they have done it playing a superb brand of football that has yielded 141 goals so far this season.

Now they are preparing for their first semifinal appearance since 2004 as they join Juventus, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the draw.

None of those teams will fancy playing Monaco, who for all Paris Saint-Germain's efforts in recent years will be the first French representative in the last four since Lyon in 2010.

"We have taken France into the semifinals. We want to go out and enjoy it but all four sides are capable of winning the competition," warned Jardim, whose team were visited by Prince Albert in the dressing room afterwards.

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Monaco dream on

Monaco's players acknowledge the public after Monaco defeated Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League 2nd leg quarter-final football match AS Monaco v BVB Borussia Dortmund on April 19, 2017 at the Louis II stadium in Monaco. Photo: AFP

A brilliant Monaco side that has taken Europe by storm will not relent in their bid for glory after beating Borussia Dortmund to reach the Champions League semifinals, promised coach Leonardo Jardim.

The team from the Mediterranean principality were too good for their German opponents in Wednesday's quarterfinal second leg, winning 3-1 at the Stade Louis II to advance 6-3 on aggregate.

"We have won nothing, but we have made history," declared Portuguese coach Jardim after the game, as his side extended a run that began in the third qualifying round against Fenerbahce last July, nine months ago.

Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe, skipper Radamel Falcao and substitute Valere Germain got their goals with Marco Reus netting for Dortmund on a memorable night for the hosts.

The last team to come through two qualifying rounds to reach the semifinals of the Champions League was Dynamo Kiev in 1999, although the format was different in those days.

Nobody expected Monaco -- conquerors of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the last round -- to get this far but they have done it playing a superb brand of football that has yielded 141 goals so far this season.

Now they are preparing for their first semifinal appearance since 2004 as they join Juventus, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the draw.

None of those teams will fancy playing Monaco, who for all Paris Saint-Germain's efforts in recent years will be the first French representative in the last four since Lyon in 2010.

"We have taken France into the semifinals. We want to go out and enjoy it but all four sides are capable of winning the competition," warned Jardim, whose team were visited by Prince Albert in the dressing room afterwards.

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