Borussia Dortmund hold off late flurry from Augsburg

Marco Reus
Marco Reus
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Borussia Dortmund bounced back from their opening day defeat to Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-2 win at Augsburg on Friday night, although they nearly let the points slip in Bavaria.

Marco Reus scored the opener and then set up Sokratis Papastathopoulos for the second as two goals in three first-half minutes effectively ended Augsburg's hopes.

Adrian Ramos added a third with his first goal for his new club before Raul Bobadilla pulled a goal back.

Tim Matavz added a second for the hosts two minutes from time, setting up a nail-biting conclusion in which Dortmund just managed to hold on to victory.

Augsburg started off confidently enough, but their attacks were soon snuffed out and Dortmund hit back with a vengeance.

Lukasz Piszczek's cross was just too far in front of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to turn in from close range, but the opening goal was not far away.

It arrived in the 11th minute with Henrikh Mkhitaryan playing in Reus, who then exchanged passes with Kevin Grosskreutz before slotting the ball past Marwin Hitz with aplomb.

Shortly after, a Piszczek effort was deflected behind for a corner and Reus strolled over to curl the ball onto head of Papastathopoulos, the former Werder Bremen defender sending the ball unstoppably past Hitz from six yards out.

Each time Dortmund attacked, it looked like another goal may be scored, particularly when Mkhitaryan got on the ball.

Even without summer signings Ciro Immobile and Ramos, who were left on the bench, Dortmund's attack appeared irresistible, but they still showed one or two gaps in their defence with Nikola Djurdjic unable to capitalise with Augsburg's best chance in the 37th minute.

Dortmund seemed to step off the accelerator a little in the second half, but Augbsurg were unable to capitalise.

The visitors then clinically launched an attack out of nothing with Reus sending Aubameyang through on goal, but his placed effort was saved well low down by Hitz.

Hitz got down to deny Mkhitaryan again, but the ball fell loose this time for Ramos to add a third.

It seemed like game, set and match, but the hosts had other ideas. Substitute Bobadilla pulled a goal back before Matavz headed in a second late on.

With the game entering stoppage time, a fine save from Roman Weidenfeller at his near post was required to preserve Dortmund's points.