Rot-Weiss Essen has proven to be a real hardness test for Borussia Dortmund. The BVB existed in the DFB Cup thanks to its goalkeeper and scorer. At 1-0 (0: 0) Gregor Kobel saved his team in the first half before the deficit, in the second round Serhou Guirassy (79th minute) struck.
“We showed a very presentable game over long distances. It says a lot about the game when such an outstanding individual campaign has to decide the game”said RWE trainer Uwe Koschinat in the Sportschau interview. “We caught Dortmund a few times in the back, took people with them and keep the game open. It is a shame that in a phase in which nothing was in the air and Dortmund was a bit desperate, this goal was scored.”
“We all had a driving chaos game, didn’t have control”Julian Brandt admitted and also emphasized Guirassy’s individual performance. “But in the end we managed it and that’s the most important thing.” And BVB coach Niko Kovac said: “You need to play in such moments that make the difference – Serhou has proven that again.”
Both goalkeepers in the focus – Golz and Kobel really strong
Before the evening for BVB developed into an extremely difficult one, it started furiously, powerfully and imaginatively. The BVB intentionally shouted out the kick -off in order to put the opponent under pressure with a high pressing. That was a good thing, Dortmund won the ball and came to the first chance after a few seconds, but Jakob Golz parried Marcel Sabitzer’s shot (1st). A little later the Essen keeper was also on the spot against Felix Nmecha (4th).
After a one -sided first quarter of an hour, RWE then demonstrated that BVB was facing an extremely difficult evening. During a counterattack, Ramien Safi left the Dortmund Ramy Bensebaini with a feat and finally gave his team the sign of the offensive – Waldemar Anton clarified the situation almost with an own goal (23rd).
Then Gregor Kobel became a BVB savior – first the keeper kept strong after a drop kick by Kaito Müzua (32nd), then Safi had the greatest chance of the first half. He also failed due to the Swiss in one-on-one (40th). Between the two occasions, Golz had thwarted a double chance from Maximilian Beier and Serhou Guirassy (36th) – it was the half -time of the goalkeepers.
Guirassy is rewarding Dortmunds Performance increase
The second round remained balanced. There was no longer the abundance of opportunities, but the intensity in the game was still extremely high. In fact, BVB managed to appear more and more dominant and to increasingly push the opponent into his own half. And RWE no longer managed to counter as dangerous as in the first half.
And then once again rely on Guirassy. With his back to the gate, the exceptional striker took the ball on the edge of the penalty area, lay on his right foot and shot it flat into the far corner – the 1-0 for BVB (79.). For Guirassy it was already 39th hit in his 51st competitive game for the Dortmund.
Sportschau Bundesliga Highlights, 18.08.2025 10:50 p.m.
Willenborg in the final phase in the spotlight
The 29-year-old made the new season for a successful competitive start-but victory was again in danger. Because food did not wrongly demand a penalty in the final phase. After a cross, Dominik Martinovic wanted to head the ball into the goal from a short distance, but Dortmund’s defender Filippo Mané kicked his head – but referee Frank Willenborg decided against a penalty.
In this campaign, the referee did not cut a happy figure, but a little later he was completely wrong with an assessment. Kelsey Aninkorah -Musel rammed Yann Couto ruthlessly his knees – instead of red, there was only yellow. Shortly afterwards the game was whipped, the Brazilian was then brought off the square with the stretcher. So the successful start of the Dortmunder was overshadowed.