This was a match that took Borussia Dortmund, and the fans at Signal Iduna Park, on an emotional rollercoaster-as for a while, it seemed destined to be another slip-up before finishing in sensational style. Coming off a bitter 5-1 defeat to Stuttgart, the team came from two goals down to win 4-2 in a pulsating game against Bochum.
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Serhou Guirassy shone in this match, which showed why he is an integral component in the Dortmund attack. He scored twice to lead the comeback, and that wasn't all about individual talent but a collective strength Dortmund showed, especially in the second half.
A disastrous start
The game started with tension where Dortmund seemed distracted and gave away some careless defensive errors. Bochum, still in search of its maiden win in the Bundesliga, then capitalized on this weakness and didn't need much time. Aggressively starting off, pressing Dortmund in all areas of the pitch, the visitors opened the scoring just 16 minutes in. Matúš Bero, with a shot of rare power, left Kobel with no chance. It was an astonishing strike at 108 km/h that echoed in the stadium like a warning to seal it, meaning Dortmund wasn't in for an easy night.
Six minutes later, Bochum doubled their lead after a glaring error from Gregor Kobel, who was trying to dribble Myron Boadu in the box but lost the ball. Dani de Wit had the easiest task in slotting it into an empty net. So there it was-by the 22-minute mark, Borussia found themselves in a mess, 2-0 down at home and thoroughly off-beat.
Dortmund's wake-up call
But not for much longer did Dortmund take to wake up. Slowly, the team started to reorganize. Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi were the motors of an attack that, until then, couldn't break Bochum's defense. First Brandt tested goalkeeper Patrick Drewes, who saved it great, but in the 44th minute, with relentless persistence, Dortmund finally pulled one back. Guirassy was high above the defense to head home a perfect cross from Brandt, bringing the hope and the fans back into this game.
Halftime not only brought new energy but also a new attitude. Dortmund returned with more control and intensity and then slowly began to dominate the game. Bochum, so organized at the beginning, slowly showed the first signs of weariness.
Penalty that changed the game
The turning point in the game finally came in the 62nd minute. A quick attack down the left side saw Felix Passlack commit a foul against Guirassy in the box, and the referee didn't hesitate for a second before pointing to the spot. As cool as always, Emre Can slotted it home, and the hosts equalized. From that moment onwards, Dortmund controlled the tempo, and Şahin made really effective changes to give the team even more momentum.
The inclusion of Julien Duranville and Maximilian Beier in place of Marco Reus and Can give them the pace in attack, but it was the presence of Felix Nmecha that helped them win control in midfield. It thus led to Dortmund pressing Bochum relentlessly.
Man of the Match
To the ones who doubt Guirassy, this should have been the final proof that he belongs to Dortmund. In the 75th minute, he received a square pass by Adeyemi, kept his cool as he dribbled past Drewes, and put Dortmund in the lead for the first time. It was the winner, and what sent Signal Iduna Park into raptures. There was also something surgical about Guirassy's execution, showing a precision that makes him one of the most lethal forwards in the Bundesliga.
Bochum, reeling from this turn of events, tried to answer but did not have the energy for it. To rub salt in their wounds, Nmecha himself-on for only a few minutes-let a shot go from distance. Drewes attempted to palm it clear, but the ball slipped through his hands and in. Sealed the result at 4-2 performance full of grit and determination.