Serhou Guirassy's late strike sends Borussia Dortmund through in tense Pokal clash

A late goal from Serhou Guirassy proved the difference in a hard-fought battle, as Niko Kovac's side struggled to assert their dominance against a spirited Essen outfit.

The Bundesliga heavyweights, debuting their 2025/26 kit, started brightly, with Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha testing Essen goalkeeper Jakob Golz early on.

However, Essen responded with tenacity, as Ramien Safi forced a sharp save from Dortmund's Gregor Kobel on 19 minutes. The hosts grew in confidence, with Kaito Mizuta's effort from a corner drawing another fine stop from Kobel before the break.

Despite controlling possession, Dortmund found clear chances hard to come by. Guirassy came close with a near-post effort, but Kobel's heroics in denying Safi in a one-on-one kept the score level at halftime.

Neither side made changes at the break, and the second half followed a similar pattern, with Dortmund probing but struggling to break through Essen's resolute defence.

Kovac turned to his bench just past the hour mark, bringing on Jobe Bellingham and Julian Brandt for Pascal Gross and Maximilian Beier. The substitutions injected energy, with Brandt nearly scoring from a freekick that whistled past the post.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 79th minute when Ramy Bensebaini's precise pass found Guirassy, who turned sharply and fired a low shot past Golz to secure a 1-0 lead.

Essen pushed for a late equaliser, with Tom Moustari testing Kobel from distance in stoppage time, but Dortmund held firm to advance to the second round.

Reflecting on the match, Brandt told DAZN, "It was chaotic at times. We wanted to control the game and score more, but cup ties like this are always tough. They had a couple of big chances, but we defended well enough and got the job done."

Brandt acknowledged the challenge posed by Essen's intensity, adding, "They had some dangerous moments, especially with crosses into the box. We could've been better, but the first round is always tricky. The main thing is we're through."

Dortmund's official X account praised the team's resilience, posting, "A tough fight, but we're into the next round! Guirassy delivers when it matters. #DFBPokal."

Meanwhile, Essen's X post highlighted their spirited display, stating, "We gave everything against a Bundesliga giant. Proud of the boys!"

With the Pokal behind them, Dortmund now turn their focus to their Bundesliga opener against St. Pauli on Saturday, August 23. Kovac will hope for a sharper performance as his side aim to build momentum in the new campaign.

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