Augsburg win in Dortmund | OneFootball

Augsburg stun Borussia Dortmund with another defensive masterclass

Augsburg secure a stunning win at Borussia Dortmund, with Jeffrey Gouweleeuw's first-half header proving decisive in a match in which the dominant hosts became the latest side to come up short against the Bavarian outfit's brilliant defence.

Borussia Dortmund 0-1 AugsburgGoal: 0-1 Gouweleeuw 23' (assist: Wolf)

Dortmund, buoyed by their recent resurgence under Niko Kovač, were looking to secure their third consecutive Bundesliga victory. Augsburg, on the other hand, arrived in Dortmund riding an impressive eight-match unbeaten streak, eyeing the opportunity to set a new club record. The stage was set for a tactical battle between Kovač's attacking philosophy and Jess Thorup's well-organized Augsburg side.

Julian Brandt of Dortmund battles for possession with Augsburg's Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, epitomising the intense contest. (IMAGO/Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images)

Augsburg strike early

The match began with Dortmund asserting their dominance, controlling possession and pushing Augsburg back. However, it was the visitors who struck first against the run of play. In the 23rd minute, Marius Wolf delivered a precise free-kick from the left flank, finding Gouweleeuw at the far post. The Augsburg captain rose highest, expertly guiding his header from an improbable position over Gregor Kobel and into the net, stunning the home crowd.

Finn Dahmen kept another clean sheet, with Augsburg not conceding in over 500 minutes of Bundesliga football. (IMAGO/Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images)

Dortmund's frustration grows

Dortmund's response was immediate and intense. They peppered the Augsburg goal with shots and crosses, earning a staggering nine corners before half-time. Julian Brandt was particularly active, but despite Dortmund's efforts, Augsburg's defence, marshalled by the impressive Gouweleeuw, stood firm. Finn Dahmen in the Augsburg goal was equal to everything thrown at him, making crucial saves to maintain his side's lead going into the break.

Despite Dortmund's best efforts, Augsburg held on for an away win. (IMAGO/Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO)

Hosts' efforts thwarted

The second half saw Dortmund ramp up the pressure even further. In the 51st minute, the home fans thought their team had equalised when Brandt bundled the ball home following a corner, but VAR intervened to rule the goal out for offside. This setback seemed to galvanise Dortmund, who continued to push forward relentlessly. Serhou Guirassy came agonisingly close in the 71st minute, his header from close range sailing just over the bar. Despite introducing fresh legs and adopting a more attacking formation, Dortmund couldn't find a way through Augsburg's resolute defence, which won an impressive 104 tackles compared to Dortmund's 83.

Augsburg's resilience pays off

As the match wore on, Augsburg's confidence grew. They defended deeper but remained dangerous on the counter-attack. The visitors even had a goal of their own disallowed in the 60th minute, with Gouweleeuw again involved, this time being caught offside before his header led to an own goal by Salih Özcan. In the dying minutes, Samuel Essende thought he had sealed the win for Augsburg, only for his effort to also be ruled out for offside. Despite these setbacks, Thorup's men held on for a famous victory, extending their unbeaten run to a club-record nine matches.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Dortmund 1.16 - Augsburg 0.75Fastest player: Julien Duranville (Dortmund), 35.35 km/hLowest goal probability: 0-1 by Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (Augsburg), 3.55 percentMost pressed player: Julian Brandt (Dortmund), 20 times under pressurePass efficiency: Emre Can (Dortmund), +2.5

Fantasy Heroes: Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (Augsburg, 240 Points), Chrislain Matsima (Augsburg, 220 Points), Salih Özcan (Borussia Dortmund, 209 Points)

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