Serhou Guirassy's brace sends Borussia Dortmund past battling Sabah in the UEFA Champions League
Borussia Dortmund got back to winning ways in the UEFA Champions League as they edged past Sabah in an entertaining encounter in Baku. Serhou Guirassy's brace secured a 2-1 win for them, providing the perfect response to their loss against Bodø/Glimt last time out.
Sabah FK 1–2 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Guirassy 10‘, 1-1 McCarthy 39‘ (assist: Puchacz), 1-2 Guirassy 53‘ (assist: Veerman)
Dortmund travelled to Azerbaijan for their third Champions League league-phase fixture against Sabah FK, who had beaten Slavia Prague 2-0 in their previous home outing in the competition. Niko Kovač made four changes from the side held to a goalless draw by Union Berlin, bringing in Fabio Silva, Carney Chukwuemeka, Joey Veerman and Ramy Bensebaini. Both sides had been level on points in the league-phase table before kick-off.
Guirassy strikes early
Dortmund made the brighter start, with Silva twice forcing saves inside the opening six minutes. The visitors' pressure told on 10 minutes when Felix Nmecha fired at the keeper, and when Stas Pokatilov could only parry into the path of Guirassy, the striker slotted home from close range to put Dortmund ahead.
Sabah hit back before the break
Dortmund continued to threaten, with Veerman's free-kick and a follow-up from Chukwuemeka both tested by Pokatilov, while Steve Solvet picked up a first-half booking for a challenge on Nmecha.
Sabah grew into the contest, and after Joy-Lance Mickels had an effort ruled out for offside, the hosts drew level in the 39th minute when Tymoteusz Puchacz swung in a free-kick from the right and Aden McCarthy glanced a header past Gregor Kobel to make it 1-1 at the interval.
Guirassy restores the lead
Dortmund began the second half as they had the first. Within nine minutes of the restart, Veerman whipped a cross toward the back post where Guirassy finished first-time to make it 2-1 in the 53rd minute.
Sabah kept pressing forward and almost found a leveller when Orphé Mbina was played through one-on-one with Kobel but shot wide. Dortmund also had openings to extend their lead, with Chukwuemeka setting up Guirassy for a chance that was blocked by McCarthy at point-blank range.
A late penalty claim against Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck was waved away, and the hosts could not find the goal that would have forced extra effort from Dortmund, who saw out the match for a 2-1 win.
With six points from three games, BVB host Real Betis in their next fixture of the league phase on 4 November.
