Guirassy goal gives Dortmund the edge in arm-wrestle with Augsburg

A somewhat weakened Borussia Dortmund travelled to FC Augsburg this evening to kickstart Matchday 9 of the Bundesliga. Despite the absence of an ill Nico Schlotterbeck and injured Niklas Süle, the Westphalian giants ground out an important 1-0 win in Bavaria.

After a brief delay involving tennis balls being fired onto the pitch, the game finally got underway. BVB fans were clearly not best pleased by the DFL's decision to host the game on Friday night which required supporters to make the 580-kilometre trip south. 

The visitors dominated possession but often found themselves limited in terms of options in the final third. Aside from a wayward strike from Mert Kömür and a Dortmund set-piece that caused some havoc, the initial half-hour passed by with little to discuss. 

One team's ill fortune often leads to chances for opponents and that's exactly how BVB stole a 1-0 lead on 37 minutes. Chrislain Matsima's clearance struck Han-Noah Massengo resulting in the ball falling to Serhou Guirassy who dispatched with ease from close range.

Another short break was scheduled to start off the second-half as the away end displayed an array of fireworks fittingly of a Halloween evening. Julian Brandt and Carney Chukwuemeka tried their luck from range but the midfield duo fired over the bar twice. 

Both teams made double alterations after the hour. Kovač introduced Jobe Bellingham and Daniel Svensson, while Sandro Wagner called upon Anton Kade and Elias Saad. Minutes later, Bellingham made a vital challenge in the box to keep a venomous Elvis Rexhbecaj shot at bay.

In a bid to salvage something from the match, Wagner threw on Samuel Essende and Phillip Tietz. The latter was booked instantly for a risky challenge on Anselmino. Ultimately, six weary minutes of additional time couldn't prevent BVB from taking the spoils in a gritty, scrappy game.