Borussia Dortmund are closing in on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, moving to just six points behind after securing their fourth consecutive league victory.
Serhou Guirassy was the star for Dortmund, scoring twice as they fought back to overcome Heidenheim 3-2 in a thrilling encounter.
Despite Julian Niehues’ brace giving the visitors the lead, Niko Kovac’s side staged a comeback to claim all three points and maintain pressure on the reigning champions.
Heidenheim initially thought they had taken the lead when Patrick Mainka bundled the ball into the net following a fumble by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, but the goal was correctly ruled out for a foul.
The visitors did find the opener shortly before halftime, however, as Waldemar Anton capitalized on a misjudged corner by Diant Ramaj, volleying the ball home in the 44th minute.
Niehues quickly restored parity in first-half stoppage time, poking in a rebound after his initial acrobatic effort was blocked.
He then gave Heidenheim the lead again just three minutes into the second half with a thunderous long-range strike that left Kobel helpless.
Dortmund responded in emphatic fashion. Guirassy converted a penalty in the 68th minute after Niklas Dorsch handled the ball in the box, and barely 90 seconds later, he scored again with a precise finish from a tight angle on a fast counter-attack.
A chance to complete his hat-trick from the spot later went begging, as Guirassy’s second penalty sailed over the bar.
Despite the missed spot-kick, Guirassy’s performance was a standout. He hit the crossbar in the first half and now leads Dortmund’s Bundesliga scoring charts with eight goals this season.
He also tops the team in shots (eight), expected goals (2.17 xG), touches inside the opposition box (16), and big chances created (four). His individual xG nearly matched that of the entire Heidenheim side (2.26 xG), boosted by his two penalties.
With the win, Dortmund maintain their perfect home record in the Bundesliga this season (W8 D2), remaining the only team yet to suffer defeat on their own turf.
