Nuri Sahin gambled and won! Despite having the 1-0 advantage, the Turk kept subbing in offensive players in pursuit of a second, and it backfired with St. Pauli’s 78th-minute equalizer when Eric Smith’s screamer annulled Ramy Bensebaini’s 43rd-minute opener. Yet, Serhou Guirassy continued his streak, which started during the international break, netting a winner seven minutes before the end and securing the essential win for Dortmund – 2-1.6 buts en 6 jours. 🇬🇳🧏🏿♂️C’est juste Serhou Guirassy. 🤷🏿♂️ pic.twitter.com/oKTM8V5O6e— 🏆 Actu Foot Afrique (@ActuFootAfrique) October 18, 2024 Last round’s defeat against Union in Berlin was definitely a slap in the face for Borussia Dortmund, allowing rivals like Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig to escape to a “safe distance” of four points. That’s why BVB boss Nuri Sahin took no risk against St. Pauli, sending the strongest XI to the pitch, led by the outstanding Serhou Guirassy, scorer of five in two games for Guinea.Sahin’s iron fist: 35,000 KSH fine for missing a weigh-in; 283,000 KSH for not signing an autographThe former Stuttgart centre-forward had the first chance of the game after only seven minutes but was stopped by the away team’s keeper, Nikola Vasilj. St. Pauli’s Oladapo Afolayan threatened ten minutes later when Dortmund’s defence deflected his dangerous attempt from the area. Still, Alexander Blessin’s team was primarily focused on defending, while the home team had no solution for it, as most of their attacks were uncreative and futile.Once Dortmund’s pressure eased, St. Pauli netted a goal half an hour into the game through another Guinean, Morgan Guilavogui, after a free-kick cross. Unfortunately for the away team, the goal was disallowed due to offside. Still, it sent a serious message to Sahin’s team that it was time to wake up.🚨GOAAAAAAAAAL BENSEBAINI ⚽️Quel tête 🔥pic.twitter.com/idfwhoQ4mW— Algérie Football Média 🇩🇿 (@DZFOOTBALLDZ) October 18, 2024 The message was apparently received as Dortmund opened the scoring two minutes before the break! Pascal Gross sent a terrific cross in, finding Ramy Bensebaini, who unleashed a powerful header from around 10 metres straight into Vasilj’s bottom left corner, making it 1-0 and setting the halftime score!Seeing that his attack needs more energy to “break” the opponents, Sahin subbed Jamie Bynoe-Gittens – the man whose brace brought Dortmund victory against Eintracht Frankfurt – in for the experienced Gross. Still, the game continued at the same pace as in the first period, with BVB creating the first so-so chance in the 58th minute, but Vasilj superbly stopped Julian Brandt’s effort from the edge of the box.The National Elephant who loves first halvesHome team threatened again seven minutes later when both Guirassy and Donyell Malen were late to place Bynoe-Gittens’ low cross into St. Pauli’s net. Yet, at that point, it seemed that it was only a matter of time before Dortmund would seal the triumph.Regardless of the lead, Sahin continued chasing the second goal and did not hide it, subbing in Felix Nmecha and Maximilian Beier for Emre Can and Malen. Despite his brave approach, his team’s display and reliance on numerous crosses for the robust Guirassy did not yield result.ERIC SMITH DRAWS LEVEL WITH AN ABSOLUTELY GOLAZO!!!📽️ @GoalsXtrapic.twitter.com/aeTrnQ8VH4— Football Report (@FootballReprt) October 18, 2024 And just when the Turkish tactician opted for a more open tactic, St. Pauli used it to net the equalizer through the Swede Eric Smith, who sent a fantastic screamer home in the 80th minute for the immense joy of away fans who travelled almost 350 kilometres to support their favourites – 1-1!🚨🇩🇪 GOAL | Dortmund 2-1 St. Pauli | Serhou GuirassySERHOU GUIRASSY HAS GIVEN DORTMUND THE LEAD !!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/VeCyf7ssoh— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) October 18, 2024 However, their celebration lasted only five minutes! Another Gittens cross found its target in the 83rd minute, when the unbelievable Guirassy netted his sixth goal in three games, bringing his team very close to three points – 2-1!That goal signaled BVB to begin defending, while St. Pauli kept attacking at all costs and even made a few decent chances, but could not change the outcome. This victory brought Borussia closer to the leading duo of Leipzig and Bayern, given that Sahin’s crew is only one point behind, at least until the end of the weekend, while St. Pauli keep the 16th spot.BUNDESLIGA – MATCHDAY 7FridayDortmund – St.Pauli 2-1 (1-0)/Bensebaini 43, Guirassy 83 – Smith 78/Saturday16:30: (1.72) Freiburg (3.60) Augsburg (5.20)16:30: (1.68) Hoffenheim (4.00) Bochum (4.90)16:30: (1.50) Leverkusen (4.40) Eintr.Frankfurt (6.50)16:30: (1.90) M’ gladbach (3.50) Heidenheim (4.10)16:30: (4.10) Mainz (3.50) RB Leipzig (1.90)19:30: (1.37) Bayern (5.60) Stuttgart (8.50)Sunday16:30: (3.40) Holstein Kiel (3.40) Union Berlin (2.15)18:30: (2.15) Wolfsburg (3.45) Werder (3.35)***odds are subject to change***
