Dortmund start with comfortable win over HSV despite injury scare and red card | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund made a winning start to the Bundesliga campaign against HSV. However, Giannis Konstantelias suffered what seemed like a knee injury after scoring a debut goal.

Before kickoff, Borussia Dortmund paid tribute to Cup Winners’ Cup-winning captain Wolfgang Paul as the legendary figure passed away at the age of 86 last month. The first chance of the game came in the eighth minute with the sought-after midfielder Felix Nmecha’s attempt from outside the box.

A minute later, a familiar name scored Dortmund’s first goal of the season. Serhou Guirassy produced a brilliant finish after a well-worked move by the hosts, with Konstantinos Karetsas registering an assist nine minutes into his debut.

The promising winger was then denied by Daniel Heuer Fernandes as Niko Kovac’s men looked to double their advantage. It was fellow Greece international Konstantelias who registered a debut goal despite Karetsas coming close on several occasions, however.

The 23-year-old was set up by the wingback Maximilian Beier before his effort ended up in the net after a big deflection by HSV’s debutant Sebastian Bornauw. HSV improved after the break, but they weren’t able to create clear-cut chances.

Konstantelias had to be substituted ten minutes after the break with an injury that could keep him out of action. There was further bad news for BVB later in the game as Samuele Inacio saw a straight red card only three minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Dortmund, who finished both of their first two competitive games with ten players, will face Oberliga side HEBC Hamburg on Tuesday in a rescheduled DFB-Pokal first round tie. Hamburg will host Mainz next week as both teams are in search of their first Bundesliga win of the season.