Borussia Dortmund beat newly-promoted St. Pauli to keep their 100 percent record at home intact with their fourth successive Bundesliga win of the season. After Eric Smith’s equaliser, Serhou Guirassy scored the winning goal for Nuri Şahin’s side seven minutes from time.
The match
Unbeaten in their last 38 Bundesliga games on a Friday night at the Westfalenstadion – a run that dates back to January 2004 – Serhou Guirassy almost got Borussia Dortmund off to a flying start when he forced St. Pauli’s Nikola Vasilj into a good save at his near post, his first of the night.
It was though the visitors had the better chance in the opening exchanges. Jackson Irvine played through Dapo Afolayan but the Englishman, who was playing non-league football in 2018, dwelled on the ball allowing Ramy Bensebaini to make an excellent recovery run and block to deny the St. Pauli forward.
In possession, Dortmund played with a back three with one of Emre Can or Pascal Groß dropping into defence, allowing Julian Ryerson and Ramy Bensebaini to alternate in providing width. The former forced Vasilj into making another save, but it was St. Pauli who had the ball in the back of the net first. Eric Smith’s inswinging free-kick in the 30th minute was met by Morgan Guilavogui but after a two minute delay and a conversation with the VAR, the Guinean was judged to be marginally offside.
Although Borussia Dortmund struggled to break down St. Pauli’s low block, they broke through on the stroke of half-time through Ramy Bensebaini, the Algerian’s first goal in Black and Yellow – Pascal Groß’ superb cross in the half space was met by the head of Bensebaini, whose header looped over Vasilj.
Groß was replaced by Jamie Gittens during the break, which injected pace into Dortmund’s frontline as the hosts continued to control possession. As Die Schwarzgelben looked to put the game out of reach, Guirassy came close to doubling Dortmund’s lead before Donyell Malen was then centimetres away after a two minute spell created two half chances for Şahin’s side.
But for all of Borussia Dortmund’s possession, St. Pauli started to press higher up the pitch in the final 15 minutes and they were rewarded when Eric Smith’s long-range thunderbolt from 30-yards flew past a helpless Gregor Kobel, despite complaints from the Swiss goalkeeper suggesting that Afolayan, standing in an offside position, was obstructing his view.
But when Dortmund needs a goal, up steps Guirassy. Gittens again a super-sub with a sublime assist after beating his marker in a one-on-one situation, his cross was met by the head of Guirassy who scored his fourth Bundesliga goal of the season, securing an important three points for the hosts.
Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings
Gregor Kobel (4) – Julian Ryerson (5), Waldemar Anton (5), Nico Schlotterbeck (6), Ramy Bensebaini (7) – Emre Can (6), Pascal Groß (6) – Marcel Sabitzer (5), Julian Brandt (6), Donyell Malen (5) – Serhou Guirassy (7).
Others: Jamie Gittens (7), Felix Nmecha (6), Maximilian Beier (-)
