Borussia Dortmund 1 FC Augsburg 1: Danso dampens Dortmund mood with second-half equaliser
Despite taking a first-half lead through Marco Reus, Dortmund were frustratingly pegged back to a 1-1 draw against mid-table FC Augsburg at the Signal Iduna Park.
Reus had initially scored the game’s first goal on the 15th minute after a brilliant counter-attacking move. Reus lead the charge before laying off winger Andre Schurrle whose cross was excellently stopped from defender Martin Hinteregger. But a great deal of fortune saw the ball find itself fall at the feet of Reus, who smashes the ball in from just 2 yards out.
Dortmund are currently unbeaten under new manager Peter Stoger and carried on this record for the 9th game running.
The first-half was a half of few and far chances with Reus making the most of one of the opportunities that was gifted to him from the away side’s defence.
However, Augsburg could’ve found themselves level with their only real chance of the first half after midfielder Jonathan Schmid tried his luck from a 25-yard free-kick which had to be parried behind for a corner from Dortmund keeper Roman Burki.
This late chance ended a first-half which the home side deserved to be narrowly ahead in but this wouldn’t be for long as Augsburg would come out at the second half a completely different team.
There would be a many more chances for both sides with the first of which unsurprisingly falling to Augsburg with that man Schmid involved again.
A cross down the left-hand side was whipped in and found the 5ft 10 Frenchman again whose glancing header went just wide Burki’s goal. The Swiss international was left rooted to his goal-line and was something of a warning side from the away side.
Dortmund responded with the substitution of Mahmoud Dahoud for Gonzalo Castro and looked like a man who had a point to prove after a few recent poor performances in recent weeks but looked to provide much more of an influence in this game.
After trying his luck from distance, Dahoud was involved with a great chance for the home side after laying through team-mate Schurrle.
The 27 year-old was played through down the right-hand side but his first-time shot is just wide of the mark, some fans would argue the German could’ve got closer before taking the shot on.
Schurrle would live to regret his missed opportunity after the Fuggerstädter would equalsise just 4 minutes later.
The home side conceded a corner and this would prove costly as former MK Dons youth centre-back Kevin Danso would smash in his side’s equaliser in similar style to Reus’ opener.
The ball is swung in from a corner, leaving Danso with a free header after Dortmund’s Sokratis loses him too easily. The 19 year-old’s initial effort is saved by Burki but the rebound falls back to the Austrian who smashed it in at the second attempt.
This would awake the lying beast in Dortmund as for the last 15 minutes, it would be wave-after-wave of home side attacks.
Dahoud and Michy Batshuayi both had their side’s best chances with Batshuayi robbing the ball off full-back Marcel Schmelzer who was arguably in a better position.
Schurrle does brilliantly to carry the ball forward before laying it off to recent substitute Christian Pulisic who crosses the ball to an on-running Schmelzer but the ball is snatched from Batshuayi who smashes the ball over the bar.
This final chance ended what was a disappointing result for Dortmund who remain in 2nd place but will be looking to this Saturday’s game against rivals RB Leipzig for a much better performance than against Augsburg.
The away side meanwhile, remain in 8th place and will take pride in their performance against Dortmund tonight and be looking to take this into their game against 9th placed Hoffenheim.
