Borussia Dortmund clinch thrilling victory at Hoffenheim with last-gasp Waldemar Anton strike
Borussia Dortmund won a rollercoaster encounter in Hoffenheim as Waldemar Anton struck the decisive blow deep into stoppage time.
Hoffenheim 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Guirassy 20' (assist: Svensson), 1-1 Hložek 61' (assist: Stach), 1-2 Brandt 74' (assist: Svensson), 2-2 Kadeřábek 90+1' (assist: Jurásek), 2-3 Anton 90+5' (assist: Guirassy)
Missed penalty: Guirassy 34'
Dortmund entered the match with real momentum, having collected ten points from their last four league games, pushing them closer to the European spots. Hoffenheim, meanwhile, were eyeing the possibility of securing their top-flight survival with a positive result.
Guirassy strikes first, but misses chance to double lead
The match began with Dortmund asserting their dominance, controlling possession and creating early chances. Their efforts were rewarded in the 20th minute when Serhou Guirassy broke the deadlock, finishing off a well-worked move assisted by Daniel Svensson. The visitors continued to press, and were awarded a penalty in the 34th minute. However, Guirassy's spot-kick was expertly saved by Hoffenheim's goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, keeping the hosts in the game. The first half also saw Hoffenheim have a goal disallowed for offside.
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Hoffenheim fight back
The second half saw a resurgent Hoffenheim side equalise in the 61st minute through Adam Hložek. The Czech forward's well-taken goal breathed new life into the contest, setting the stage for a thrilling finale. Both teams made strategic substitutions, with Karim Adeyemi and Salih Özcan entering for Dortmund, while Hoffenheim brought on Haris Tabaković and David Jurásek. Dortmund, however, were not to be denied. In the 74th minute, Julian Brandt restored the visitors' lead with a sublime first-time finish from Svensson's cross.
Late drama seals Dortmund victory
Just as it seemed Dortmund were on course for a win, Hoffenheim struck again. In the first minute of stoppage time, Pavel Kadeřábek volleyed home an equaliser, sending the home fans into raptures. But the drama was far from over. In the 95th minute, Anton emerged as the unlikely hero for Dortmund, slotting home the winner after a chaotic sequence in the Hoffenheim box. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Dortmund players and staff, sealing a crucial victory in their push for European football.
Player of the Match: Daniel Svensson
While the goalscorers grabbed the headlines, it was Svensson who emerged as the standout performer. The Swedish full-back was at the heart of Dortmund's best moves, providing the assist for Guirassy's opener and delivering the cross for Brandt's goal. His vision, passing range, and work rate were instrumental in Dortmund's dominance of possession and creation of chances.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Hoffenheim 1.16 - Dortmund 2.43
Fastest player: Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), 35.22 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-1 by Julian Brandt (Dortmund), 5.81 percent
Most pressed player: Jamie Gittens (Dortmund), 30 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Ramy Bensebaini (Dortmund), +4.63
Fantasy Heroes: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim, 409 points), Daniel Svensson (Dortmund, 367 points), Julian Brandt (Dortmund, 298 points)
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