(CNN)American youngster Tyler Adams scored a late winner on Thursday to send RB Leipzig past Atletico Madrid and into the Champions League semi-finals.
The 21-year-old’s deflected shot in the 88th minute was enough to restore the German club’s lead after João Felix’s penalty canceled out Dani Olmo’s opening goal.
RB Leipzig was formed in its current form just 11 years ago after Red Bull’s billionaire took over German fifth division side SSV Markranstadt and the team has been climbing the football ladder ever since.
They now have a chance to add another chapter to their incredible story when they meet PSG in Tuesday’s semi-finals – after the French champions made an impressive late comeback to defeat Atalanta 2-1 on Wednesday.
“Great emotions for the club and our team. As a coach, you have to look ahead,” RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann, 33, told BT Sport after the game.
“We have to prepare for the next game. There’s not much time to celebrate, but maybe we’ll have a beer at the hotel and then we’ll focus on PSG.”
“The club (RB Leipzig) has developed very quickly since then. We reached the Bundesliga and qualified for the Champions League three times. We’re still in the Champions League.
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made history
Atletico Madrid started the game as a slight favorite against the German opponents, but the Spaniards were not able to convince.
It may have played without striker Angel Correa and defender Sime Vrsaljkowho, both of whom have tested positive for the coronavirus but had enough experience on the pitch to perform better.
Felix’s substitution in the second half seemed to give Atlético a boost, but the 20-year-old’s converted penalty ended up being nothing.
With the game seemingly destined for extra time, Stefan Savic was blocked with a speculative late shot by Adams to end the tie in 90 minutes – and send RB Leipzig into their maiden Champions League semi-final.
Adams, who has ten caps for the US national team, joined Leipzig in January 2019 from the New York Red Bulls. He is the first American to score in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with his first goal for the club.
“Now it’s about recovering properly, getting ourselves right mentally and working on the game plan,” Adams told BT Sport after the game.
“We are self-confident, you could see that today.”
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