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Dortmund Squanders Two-Goal Lead in Thrilling Bundesliga Opener Against St. Pauli
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Hamburg – Borussia Dortmund and St. Pauli played to a dramatic 3-3 draw in the Bundesliga season opener on Saturday, a result that left Dortmund coach Niko Kovac deeply frustrated. Despite leading 3-1, dortmund conceded two late goals, including a penalty, to relinquish the victory.
Kovac was blunt in his assessment of his team’s performance. “Today was a day where we didn’t deserve more than one point,” he stated after the final whistle.”We weren’t as focused as I would have liked throughout the entire match.We capitalized on our chances to score, but we didn’t demonstrate the necessary fight when it mattered most.”
Sporting director Sebastian Kehl echoed Kovac’s sentiments, acknowledging the team’s shortcomings. “We were punished for our performance,” Kehl said. “We weren’t present enough today, and we must accept the draw. Losing control of the game in the final minutes is unacceptable.”
Missed Possibility: Guirassy‘s Penalty
Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring for Dortmund in the 34th minute, but quickly had a chance to double the lead. Though, St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj expertly saved guirassy’s penalty, awarded after a foul on Karim Adeyemi by Smith.
Dortmund did manage to extend their advantage to 3-1, but the complexion of the match changed dramatically in the 85th minute when Filippo Mané received a red card for a foul on Abdoulie Ceesay. Danel Sinani converted the resulting penalty, and Eric Smith completed the comeback with an 89th-minute equalizer.
Midfielder Brandt Reflects on Crucial Moments
Midfielder Julian Brandt pinpointed the penalty as a turning point. “The decisive moment was, of course, the penalty. We allowed ourselves to become intimidated,” he explained. “With a 3-1 lead, we needed to manage the game better and avoid conceding ground, especially when playing with a man advantage.”
Frequently Asked questions
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What was the final score of the Dortmund vs.St. Pauli match?
The match ended in a 3-3 draw.
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Who scored the first goal for Borussia dortmund?
Serhou Guirassy scored the opening goal for dortmund in the 34th minute.
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Was there a penalty awarded in the match?
Yes, a penalty was awarded to Dortmund, but Serhou Guirassy missed it. St. Pauli also scored from a penalty.
