Dortmund beat Augsburg in seven-goal thriller. Sebastien Haller made his team debut after overcoming testicular cancer as Borussia Dortmund defeated Augsburg 4-3 at home on Sunday.
Three times, Dortmund grabbed the lead before Augsburg equalized by taking advantage of the sloppy home defense.
In the 70th minute, Dortmund manager Edin Terzic substituted Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Gio Reyna. Both of the wingers scored goals to assist their team win.
Terzic commended his players for remaining strong throughout a “wild, chaotic battle.”
“Despite all of the difficulties, I’m glad we still won the game. The fact that we battled back is a plus.
Enrico Maassen, the coach of Augsburg, claimed his team, which is only one slot above the relegation playoff spot, might learn from the “annoying” outcome.
We had a great game. If we continue to play like this, we will win.
Before Jude Bellingham made a breakthrough in the 29th minute, Dortmund had the upper hand in the early exchanges.
A low effort from the 19-year-old Englishman into the bottom right corner of the goal after he received the ball on the outside of the box and sent the Augsburg defenders running.
Even though Dortmund had the most of the ball, Augsburg responded in the 40th minute when Dion Beljo took advantage of a careless Nico Schlotterbeck and passed to Arne Maier, who scored.
However, Schlotterbeck quickly atoned for his error by heading in a free-kick from Julian Brandt to give Dortmund the lead (2-1).
Ermedin Demirovic scored Augsburg’s equalizer in injury time by chipping the ball over Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel for his sixth goal of the year.
Haller made his first competitive appearance since May 2022 when he came off the bench in the 61st minute to thunderous cheers from both home and away supporters.
Bynoe-Gittens and Reyna were added to the game when the home team began to lose more points.
With a beautifully curled shot from outside the box, 18-year-old Englishman Bynoe-Gittens gave the home team the lead back almost immediately.
David Colina of Augsburg responded less than a minute later, but Dortmund took back control two minutes later when US striker Reyna hoisted the ball over Rafal Gikiewicz and into the goal.
After scoring the game-winning goal, Reyna turned to Dortmund’s iconic yellow wall and appeared to make a reference to the current dispute between national team coach Gregg Berhalter and the Reyna family that has consumed US football since the World Cup in Qatar by placing his fingers in his ears.
Terzic praised Reyna’s fortitude, noting that “he’s taken so much in the previous several weeks.”
In a tense last few minutes, Dortmund managed to hang on for the three points that lifted them into sixth position in the standings.
In spite of being responsible for two of Augsburg’s three goals, defender Schlotterbeck hailed his team’s scorching offense for saving the defense.
The German defender said to broadcaster DAZN, “Quality up front – and no quality at the back.”
I’m not even sure if I should be pleased with the victory or upset with the three goals allowed.
Leverkusen triumphs – In the late game on Sunday, goals from Mitchel Bakker, Amine Adli, and Nadiem Amiri helped Bayer Leverkusen defeat Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-2.
After 21 minutes, Bakker capitalized on Adam Hlozek’s deflected shot, and French winger Adli extended the visitors’ lead shortly before halftime.
Hlozek was replaced by Amiri in the 64th minute. Three minutes after scoring, Amiri ran to the sidelines to embrace Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.
Leverkusen was kept alert by two late goals from Gladbach captain Lars Stindl, but the visitors managed to hold on.
The result continues Leverkusen’s astonishing comeback under Alonso and is their sixth straight triumph over their neighborhood rivals.
Under the former Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich player, the team has already won four straight Bundesliga games after starting the season with four defeats in five games.
