It was a scene that many Dortmund fans must have experienced live in the stadium: pass deep to the lightning-fast Jadon Sancho, precise cross into the middle, goal by Marco Reus. The action in the 77th minute in the Darmstadt stadium at the Böllenfalltor was reminiscent of the 2017 to 2021 seasons, when these two offensive experts last hunted for goals together in black and yellow. On Saturday evening, the two, returnee Sancho and long-time Borussia player Reus, came on together in the 55th minute – and 22 minutes later they were decisive together in the game.
In the 3-0 win over Darmstadt 98 in the Bundesliga, which was more dutiful than brilliant, Dortmund were not completely convincing, but it was still an “extremely important victory,” as coach Edin Terzic said. Because the gap to fourth place, which qualifies for participation in the Champions League, melted to three points at the first opportunity in the new year due to Leipzig’s home defeat against Frankfurt. And because Dortmund’s winter personnel decisions obviously had an impact. Among other things, the loan of the 23-year-old Sancho, who never had the influence on the game at Manchester United as he did in his happier time in Dortmund – and now immediately started preparing for goals.
“We don’t have to talk about Jadon’s potential and talent, everyone knows that,” said Coach Terzic. “Now he has experienced the first dent in his career. He showed up at our house with a huge smile on his face. And he is one of the players in the world who plays better when they smile.” In his first time in Dortmund, the Englishman managed 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 games.
Terzic: “It was a good first step”
While the hard-working Sancho was noted for his lack of match practice and connection to the people next to him in some scenes, Ian Ethan Maatsen indicated that he was the hoped-for reliable solution in the left-back position. Terzic had ordered the Dutchman, who had just been loaned out from Chelsea a few days ago, straight into the starting line-up, where he made an agile and confident impression without any difficulties in adapting.
“The key was that we didn’t allow many chances,” said Terzic, who had come under considerable pressure after the unpleasant second half of 2023 with only one win from eight Bundesliga games – and at short notice Mats Hummels, who was replaced by Emre Can the central defense was well represented, had to do without. “It was a good first step,” said the coach, “nothing more, nothing less.”
In the first quarter of an hour at the Böllenfalltor it was initially unclear who was the favorite and who was the underdog. The “Lilien” had a lot of ball wins and advances against the Westphalians, who needed a while to get up to speed in the January cold. Julian Brandt forced SVD goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen to make his first save (20th). Four minutes later, however, the duel between the two ended in favor of the Dortmund offensive player. Because the previously agile newcomer naively did not stop a run by Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Brandt was able to precisely target the far corner of the goal.
Immediately an asset: Jadon Sancho : Image: EPA
Another Darmstadt mistake – by central defender Matej Maglica – gave Niclas Füllkrug an excellent shot opportunity, but the national striker was too hesitant to take advantage of it (43′). Dortmund, who were more concerned about playing safely than inspiringly, went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
In the 55th minute the time had come: Sancho and Reus entered the South Hesse stage. A little later they gave the BVB fans a déjà vu of their well-known harmony. However, BVB was lucky that the class of its goalkeeper Gregor Kobel prevailed against Luca Pfeiffer’s lack of killer instinct. The SVD attacker was free to head the ball after a long corner (64′), Kobel reacted strongly and prevented the equalizer.
Published/Updated: Published/Updated: Published/Updated:
Because that remained the only really dangerous finish from the bottom of the table throughout the entire season, the Borussia team headed for a safe away win from then on. Substitute Youssoufa Moukoko made it 3-0 in stoppage time after an impressive individual performance. A successful start to the year for the Dortmund team, which overall had more features of working according to the rules than pure joy of playing.
