Quickfire double guides Bologna to victory over Dortmund

UEFA Champions League action resumed for Borussia Dortmund who made the trip to take on Bologna for Matchday 7. The hosts ran out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Thijs Dallinga and Samuel Illing-Junior.

Both sides showed their intent in the early exchanges which Dortmund marginally shaded as a Pascal Groß freekick tested Lukasz Skorupski. However, the Polish shot-stopper couldn’t prevent Serhou Guirassy’s panenka penalty in the 15th-minute. Emil Holm’s push on Schlotterbeck presented the Malian with the spot-kick to convert. Bologna had a penalty appeal of their own which was quickly dismissed. 

Bologna began to grow in confidence thereafter as attacking talisman Ricardo Orsolini stung the palms of Gregor Kobel. The Italian winger flashed over with a second attempt in the subsequent phase of play. Much to the 27-year-old’s disappointment, his evening was cut short by a hamstring injury as Samuel Illing-Junior replaced him just before the half-time whistle sounded. 

The Italian club sought instant parity upon the start of the second-half as Babis Lykogiannis’ cross was narrowly flicked over the bar by Dan Ndoye who attempted the spectacular. The game slipped back into a lull until Nuri Sahin introduced Emre Can and Karim Adeyemi after a quiet night from both Julien Duranville and Gio Reyna. Guirassy came close to a second goal when Skorupski failed to cut out a cross. On this occasion, the BVB striker’s header dropped the wrong side of the bar. 

Things changed in an instant when Bologna substitutes Jens Odgaard and Thijs Dallinga combined. The Dane latched onto a long ball and squared for the 24-year-old Dutchman to tap home. Mere seconds later and Bologna led 2-1. Waldemar Anton failed to control a long ball as Samuel Illing-Junior pounced to punish a lacklustre BVB defence. In truth, BVB mustered little in response thereafter – and possibly the end of the line for head coach Nuri Sahin.