EXPLAINED: Why Kai Havertz was allowed to retake crucial penalty for Chelsea against Borussia Dortmund

Chelsea forward Kai Havertz was controversially allowed to retake his second-half penalty against Borussia Dortmund – and converted to take the lead.

Borussia Dortmund players were deemed to have encroached in the box as Havertz ran up to take the first penalty, which he missed off the post, before clearing the rebound. The German converted his retake to give Chelsea a 2-1 aggregate lead.

The penalty call for handball was controversial itself, as VAR overturned the decision on the pitch and awarded the Blues a spot-kick. As a result, an in-form Dortmund side were furious at officials.

WHY WAS HAVERTZ ALLOWED A RETAKE?

The key factor in the controversial decision was that a Dortmund player who prematurely entered the box cleared the ball after Havertz’s miss. If there hadn’t been a rebound, then there wouldn’t have been a chance for Dortmund to kick the ball away to prompt a retake.

Chelsea retook their penalty due to encroachment after Havertz’ shot hit the post.

Havertz scored on the second attempt. pic.twitter.com/so3KfwjIIg

— Chelsea Lens (@chelsealens_) March 7, 2023

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The decisions that led to Chelsea going ahead on aggregate were highly controversial.

Remarkably, Havertz’s goal marked the first time this calendar year that Chelsea have scored more than once in a match. It couldn’t have come at a better time, with the Blues likely needing to win the Champions League to qualify for next year’s edition given their position in the Premier League.