BERLIN (AP) – Jadon Sancho scored his first Bundesliga goal of the season on Sunday, but Borussia Dortmund returned from winter break looking like they needed him in a close 2-0 win over Wolfsburg.
Sancho secured the result with a counterattack in added time, ignoring a challenge from defender Paulo Otávio before shooting at the right post after he had just beaten the goalkeeper.
It is the English forward’s first goal in his twelfth league appearance this season, a sharp drop from last season when he was 17. This has sparked Manchester United’s interest in a primary play. Array Sancho has scored seven goals and 8 assists after 12 Bundesliga appearances last season.
Sancho made his sixth lend a hand this season on Sunday when he sent in the corner for Manuel Akanji’s advance in the 66th minute, but it had been a frustrating game for Dortmund despite star forward Erling Haaland returning after a month of absence with a muscle. injury.
“We knew what to expect but they hit us too hard,” said new Dortmund manager Edin Terzić after his first home win.
There was a long delay in the middle of the moment portion for a VAR check on a handball imaginable via Axel Witsel. The Dortmund midfielder did not have time to dodge Renato Steffen’s point-blank header and referee Manuel Gräfe nevertheless allowed the game to continue.
Wolfsburg had given the impression of being the team’s maximum who was likely to score, but there were few chances after the unscheduled break as the game was continually interrupted by Gräfe’s whistle.
Dortmund had to wait extra time in the first half for their first big chance, which Sancho wasted when he couldn’t connect well with a rebound. There is still time before half-time for Marco Reus to control Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels on a loose shot.
Casteels made a great save with one hand to ward off Haaland after the break, but Akanji nonetheless managed to break through when he launched a header from Sancho’s corner.
The pushed for the equalizer until Emre Can sent Sancho loose after a corner from Wolfsburg.
BAYERN REBOND
Bayern Munich survived the worry of humble Mainz before returning to the more sensible Bundesliga with a 5-2 win in the game.
The reigning champions were stunned to be 2-0 at halftime, which might not come as a surprise as it marked the eighth straight game in which Bayern conceded first.
Jonathan Burkardt ignored Jerome Boateng’s slight challenge before opening the scoring in the 32nd minute and Alexander Hack led Daniel Brosinski’s loose kick in the 44th, after Boateng fouled Burkardt.
Mainz goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, who debuted with an injury at the club’s number 1, made a brilliant save to prevent Robert Lewandowski from drawing the two.
“The first part like a dream,” said Dahmen, 22.
Mainz captain Danny Latza hit the ball after the break and then Bayern responded.
Lewandowski set up Joshua Kimmich in the 50s, six minutes before Kimmich let the ball pass for Leroy Sané to equalize.
Robin Quaison shook the crossbar for Mainz before Bayern celebrated when Alphonso Davies forced a purpose of his own on Leandro Barreiro.
The VAR gave the visitors some respite after seeing Davies offside, but there is nothing wrong with Niklas Süle’s purpose for Bayern at 70. Lewandowski added a penalty six minutes later and then scored his 19th goal of the season at 83 to finish.
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Ciarán Fahey on Twitter: https://twitter. com/cfaheyAP