Three late joker goals save Borussia Dortmund from an almost traditional early setback in the Bundesliga. Anthony Modeste celebrates his starting eleven debut, but other protagonists are responsible for the second win of the season against Freiburg.
Anthony Modeste had been given a lead role. The new BVB striker was in the starting XI against SC Freiburg. And he had good scenes. As befits a leading actor. After 51 seconds he had his first ball contact for the new employer, after 22 minutes the first shot. It doesn’t take much imagination to imagine that the 34-year-old will strengthen Borussia. That he will be the lighthouse in this fascinating group that is blessed with such an incredible amount of talent. But the longer this intense game lasted, the less Modeste was an issue. That was also due to SC Freiburg, who had taken a 1-0 lead thanks to a great header by Michael Gregoritsch.
But that was also due to Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Youssoufa Moukoko. These are two footballers who promise a lot in Dortmund. Actually, not immediately, not on this Friday evening. But it came completely different. The two youngsters were substituted on by coach Edin Terzic. And they turned the game. Bynoe-Gittens fired from 30 meters and was lucky enough to slip the ball through the fingers of keeper Mark Flekken. But only those who are brave are lucky. And that was the 18-year-old Englishman. Also at 2:1. With a brisk dribbling, he staged Julian Brandt, who spied straight on to Moukoko – and he did striker things.
Moukoko, this talent who has been hyped for years, then sprinted into the curve of the BVB fans. And he cried out his happiness. His relief after difficult months. Little playing time, many doubts. Wiped away with the goal that finally drew the game in the Black and Yellow side before Marius Wolf, the third joker, raised. For Dortmund, who weren’t the better team. At least not more than 90 minutes. But they won because they fought and believed in themselves. Things they didn’t always do. Consistency and mentality had become the grueling issues on Strobelallee. Past. One that cost coach Marco Rose his job in the summer. Edin Terzic took over for him. And he made struggle, diligence and willingness into a mantra.
After the game in Freiburg, the new coach put a lot of verbal force on the word “defended”. His team “resisted”. Not given up. Believed in yourself. In general, the belief is spreading in Dortmund that something big is going to happen there. That a team grows together that can play for titles and possibly challenge FC Bayern. He had submitted to Eintracht Frankfurt on the first matchday. The furious 6: 1 had already destroyed many dreams in the country that there could be another champion again. It was also discussed around the Westfalenstadion last Saturday. The season was already over if the start against Bayer Leverkusen went wrong. But he didn’t. Not this time, because it’s almost a tradition that people are quickly disappointed.
And this is where black and yellow parallels emerge. Because Borussia didn’t celebrate football either against the Werkself or against Freiburg. Despite all the power that resides in this squad (which has also been battered by injuries). Of course, it’s always thrilling how Jude Bellingham takes control of the game. How Mo Dahoud handles the ball, how Marco Reus turns up quickly. But there is still no magic in BVB under Terzic, nor is it hard work. Coupled with greed. This can be observed particularly in counter-pressing. In full sprint, Dortmund chase the ball after loss. For a few seconds until the situation is under control, the counterattack is prevented and the game is in their own ranks. This vehemence hardly existed, if at all, among Terzic’s analytical predecessors. Another reason why games like the one in Breisgau have been lost more often than won in recent years.
But there is something else: the confidence and courage that the new coach has in his players. Substituting the young Englishman Bynoe-Gittens, although Brandt is still a DFB player on the bench, that’s remarkable. But also an announcement to the 26-year-old that there simply has to be more – with a view to his ambitions in the club, but also in the national team. National coach Hansi Flick has formulated clear criteria for the World Cup squad in Qatar: form and match practice are part of it. Bynoe-Gittens sets an example. He’s up for his chance. Not everything works out, but he tries things. Terzic even sees him as a “game changer” because he has special skills to “decide a game”.
Moukoko also has this ability. Proven in junior level. The 17-year-old was unstoppable there. Hardly a week went by without new hype about the striker. But the leap to the pros turned out to be less impressive than many expected. The youngster had to get used to the higher level. And with goal phenomenon Erling Haaland, he also had the most unpleasant competitor imaginable at the top. Now Haaland is gone, his successor Sebastien Haller is suffering from a malignant tumor and with Modeste there is already a man who is supposed to play the main role. Not easy for Moukoko and all the more important this goal in the classic manner of a goalscorer. Terzic apparently has a good sense of the needs of the team and the players. Regarding his lucky hand, he said: “We have shown how good our squad is.” Also a declaration of war.
That he brings three jokers and hits all three is the special story of the game. One that cannot be repeated in a planned manner. From Marius Wolf’s point of view, she shouldn’t have to either. Substituting for the weak Thomas Meunier in the second half, he sealed the right flank well and kept storming forward. The 27-year-old helped the team in defence, counter-pressing and putting the pressure on. Even before his 3:1 he had good chances. Terzic knows about the advantages of his all-rounder and confirms that he has now earned this chance. More seem certain, sometimes right from the start. Because Wolf also brings in great emotions, he can carry you away. He fights back. A guy for Terzic football, who was particularly remarkable that evening because the team didn’t completely lose their concept after going behind. An important insight. And so they celebrated in the curve. Right in the middle: Modeste. You almost forgot after the final whistle.
