Paco’s three keeps Dortmund on top

Berlin, Oct. 6: Substitute Paco Alcacer claimed a stunning hat-trick as his superb 96thminute free-kick kept Borussia Dortmund top of the Bundesliga after a dramatic 4-3 win over Augsburg on Saturday.

Having already scored two late goals off the bench in last Saturday’s 4-2 comeback victory at Bayer Leverkusen, and netted again in the 3-0 Champions League win over Monaco on Wednesday, the 25year-old Alcacer again proved deadly off the bench.

With seven goals in just four games since signing on a season-long loan from Barcelona, Alcacer was dubbed a “very, very, very good transfer” by delighted Dortmund coach Lucien Favre after the Spaniard’s latest goal haul.

“I’m really happy to have helped the team,” Alcacer said of his hat-trick.

“Maybe it was,” he replied when asked if it was the best game of his career. “But it wasn't my victory, it was for the whole team.” The question is now whether Alcacer will stay past this season?

In front of 81,365 fans at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund slipped 0-1 down after Alfred Finnbogason’s first-half goal.

But Alcacer equalised in the 62nd minute, just three minutes after coming on, with the Spain international smashing home a cross by teenage winger Jadon Sancho, 18.

Philipp Max restored Augsburg’s lead by taking advantage of some poor Dortmund defending, only for Alcacer to claim his second equaliser on 80 minutes when he fired in off the post.

Dortmund led for the first time on 84 minutes when midfielder Mario Goetze, another second-half replacement, latched onto a great through ball and fired home on his first Bundesliga appearance this season.

The game swung again as Augsburg equalised and Michael Gregoritsch headed home a cross to make it 3-3. However, the stage was set for Alcacer to seal three points after Sergio Cordova gave away a free-kick. —AP