As Borussia Dortmund beat 10-man Augsburg 3-0 on Sunday, Sébastien Haller scored twice to go top of the Bundesliga and take control of the title race.
After a scoreless first half, in which Felix Uduokhai was sent off for the hosts, Haller broke the deadlock in the 58th minute. The forward added his second goal late on to seal the win, while Julian Brandt completed the scoring in stoppage time.
A 3-1 loss to RB Leipzig at home on Saturday left Dortmund two points ahead of Bayern Munich. Edin Terzic’s side knows that a home win over Mainz next Saturday will secure their first title since the 2011-12 season under Jürgen Klopp. To extend Bayern’s run of consecutive Bundesliga titles to ten, the German club will look forward to a BVB slip-up in Cologne.
In Terzic’s view, this season has not been one of missed chances, but rather one of setbacks. The next step is to take that last step. We are closer than we have been in a long time. We will sleep six more times, step on the gas, and hopefully win the Bundesliga.
Dortmund had 16 shots on goal in the first half to Augsburg’s one, and Niklas Süle also hit a post. Uduokhai brought down Donyell Malen in the 38th minute to deny a clear goal-scoring opportunity for the hosts, who needed a win to retain top-flight status.
Haller went around Tomas Koubek and slotted in off the post to send the away fans wild as Emre Can also hit the woodwork for the visitors after the restart. As Augsburg sought an immediate response, the Dortmund keeper, Gregor Kobel, did well to stop Irvin Cardona’s shot.
When Haller scored on the rebound with six minutes remaining, he ensured victory and set up a grandstand finish to the league season after suffering testicular cancer last year.
HALLER PUTS DORTMUND IN FRONT!
THEY ARE NOW TOP OF THE LEAGUE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fVPUZzcch8
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 21, 2023
Haller, who underwent surgery and chemotherapy before returning to action in 2023, said he would never have believed someone six months ago that he would be in this situation today. The time has come for us to achieve something great. There is no magic here, just investment. Then it comes.”