Borussia Dortmund retains the upper hand in a wild game. In the win against FC Augsburg, Giovanni Reyna becomes the celebrated match winner. However, Sebastién Haller is responsible for the goosebump moment of the game.
USébastien Haller’s jubilant Bundesliga comeback, successful start in the race to catch up – Borussia Dortmund draws new hope in the fight for a place in the Champions League. In the Bundesliga comeback of striker Haller, who came on after chemotherapy and two cancer operations in the 62nd minute, coach Edin Terzic’s team managed a hard-fought 4: 3 (2: 2) win over FC Augsburg.
“My reception was something unforgettable. I’m happy to be here. I enjoyed the moment. It was very loud, it was crazy,” Haller said after the game on DAZN: “We need this atmosphere to win games. I can play with the team but there are some things that need to be done to get my full fitness back.”
“Quality in front and no quality behind”
After goals from Jude Bellingham (30th), Nico Schlotterbeck (42nd), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (75th) and Giovanni Reyna (78th) in front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Signal Iduna Park, BVB remained in sixth place in the table , but was able to reduce the gap to second place to two points.
“We had some positive stories today. Seb Haller was with us on the soccer field for the first time. Then the two guys who were injured for a long time with Gio Reyna and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. We defied all resistance,” emphasized BVB coach Edin Terzic. Nico Schlotterbeck, who also conceded a goal, said: “Individual mistakes on both sides and quality of the strikers. It was quality in front and no quality behind. Explaining the game is very difficult. I also don’t know if I should be really happy or if I should be rather sad that we’re getting three things.”
The strong Augsburg, on the other hand, remained without a win in the eighth game in a row and are only one point away from a direct relegation zone. The team of the former Dortmund U23 coach Enrico Maßen, for which Arne Maier (40th), Ermedin Demirovic (45th + 2nd) and David Colina (77th) scored, increases the pressure before the home duel with Borussia Mönchengladbach on Wednesday .
Sebastién Haller made his Bundesliga comeback in the win against Augsburg
What: REUTERS
Unlike the two defeats before the winter break in Wolfsburg (0:2) and Mönchengladbach (2:4), BVB took charge from the start. But despite all the effort, there was initially a lack of ideas and speed to shake the Augsburg back line. Maassen’s well-aligned guests only allowed Donyell Malen (18′) a chance to score in the first 20 minutes.
Reyna shoots Dortmund to victory
But with increasing pressure from Borussia, more gaps opened up. Youssoufa Moukoko (23rd), who ended the month-long transfer poker game the day before and extended it to BVB until 2026, missed the possible 1-0 when he missed the goal after a pass from Julian Brandt. FCA goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz was beaten seven minutes later. England international Bellingham sent his opponent Arne Engels out with a body fake and hit the net from 18 yards.
This Dortmund lead was the prelude to a turbulent final phase of the first half. An unnecessary loss of ball by Nico Schlotterbeck on the outside line brought FC Augsburg back into the game. Maier took advantage of the blunder and provided a surprising equalizer when the guests had their first chance. When Schlotterbeck made up for his mistake a little later and headed in after a Brandt free-kick to take the lead again, BVB seemed to be back on course. But FCA hit back just as quickly. Demirovic refined Engels’ beautiful pass to make it 2-2.
Even after the restart, Augsburg remained an uncomfortable opponent for BVB and defended their own goal with great passion and skill. That’s why BVB coach Edin Terzic reacted and replaced the weak Moukoko with his long-missing fellow striker Haller. But even the ovations of the fans for the center forward, who suffered from testicular cancer last summer, did not bring Borussia back to life. Substitute Bynoe-Gittens put her back in the lead, but she had to accept the equalizer again immediately. Only Reyna’s shot, which is well worth seeing, ensured the lucky victory.
