Portillo's late show keeps Real in the running

Champions League holders Real Madrid threw themselves an injury-time lifeline with substitute Javier Portillo's equaliser in an exciting 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund.

Trailing at half-time to Jan Koller's 23rd minute strike, Real were heading for defeat until, two minutes into stoppage time, Zinedine Zidane rolled a pass across the area for Portillo to shoot past Jens Lehmann and into the corner of the net.

Real remain second in group C with five points to Dortmund's four and the Spanish giants next face the already qualified AC Milan at home on March 12.

Lehmann, who was sent off for attacking one of his own players at the weekend, redeemed himself with a superb performance that kept his side in the game.

And Dortmund missed a gilt-edged chance to take a 2-0 lead when Brazilian striker Ewerthon headed wide from close-range midway through the second half.

Dortmund coach Matthias Sammer was furious that his team had thrown away victory by losing the ball, allowing Zidane to penetrate into the penalty area to deliver his telling pass.

"The team played well, but this result makes me mad," said Sammer. "At this level, the slightest mistake is punished and it has cost us dear.

"(Marcio) Amoroso losing the ball is only a partial cause of the equaliser. It wasn't Billy Reina's job to come to cover him, he can do that himself.

"That meant there was a gap on the left wing. If Dede hadn't been substituted this wouldn't have happened."

Real made the early running at a Westfalenstadion whipped into a frenzy.

Their first chance of the game saw Ronaldo's deft pass find Raul, whose first shot was blocked by Lehmann's legs before French defender Ahmed Madouni threw himself in front of Raul's second attempt.

Ewerthon's pace troubled Real all night and he showed early danger when his right-foot volley flew straight at Real keeper Iker Casillas.

Dortmund's increased pressure on Real paid off in the 23rd minute.

Sebastien Kehl lobbed a pass over Ivan Helguera for Koller to thump home a shot at the near post.

Real were having enormous difficulty breaking down the Dortmund rearguard and it was not until the 32nd minute that they next tested Lehmann when Ronaldo turned sharply after receiving a cross from Zidane, but his shot went directly at the keeper.

Ronaldo would almost certainly have scored if he had connected with Roberto Carlos' low, hard cross four minutes later, but he was two feet short.

The Brazilian striker then claimed he was pushed by Christian Worns in the Dortmund area, but in fact he appeared to be doing the shoving.

Real, who have played in two of the last three Champions League finals, made the early second-half running.

From a superb Luis Figo pass, Ronaldo surged into the Dortmund area but Lehmann was equal to his low shot.

At the other end, Roberto Carlos had to leap high to head clear with the giant Koller waiting behind him.

On the hour mark, Real had a huge let-off when Roberto Carlos disastrously lost the ball in his own penalty area, allowing Koller to cross but Ewerthon headed wide from five yards.

Roberto Carlos' trademark thunderbolt of a free kick went round the wall but Lehmann punched it to safety.

As Real desperately pushed for an equaliser, Zidane charged upfield and slipped a pass to Ronaldo on the left, but the angle was tight and Lehmann saved his team again.

Koller's header rebounded off two Real defenders, forcing Casillas to dive smartly to collect the ball.

As the game entered the final ten minutes, Lehmann was at full stretch to save Ronaldo's well-hit effort and Koller's deflected shot had the Real keeper back-pedalling furiously.

On the 90-minute mark, Amoroso replaced Dede in a substitution Sammer would later regret.