The Asian Age

Dortmund edge ahead

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Berlin, Aug. 30: Borussia Dortmund bounced back from defeat on the opening day of the Bundesliga season to run out 3- 2 winners at Augsburg on Friday with Marco Reus, Sokratis Papastatho- poulos and Adrian Ramos all on target.

Jurgen Klopp’s side needed to survive a late scare at the SGL Arena, however, as Augsburg trimmed back a three- goal deficit before the final whistle ended their hopes of completing a remarkable comeback.

Dortmund were beaten 2- 0 at home by Bayer Leverkusen last Saturday after conceding the opening goal with just nine seconds played, the result putting a dampener on their hopes of seriously challengin­g Bayern Munich for the title.

In Bavaria, Klopp brought goalkeeper Roman Weidenfell­er and centreback Neven Subotic back into his starting line- up, while summer signing Ciro Immobile was dropped to the bench at the expense of Kevin Grosskreut­z.

And Dortmund were almost out of sight after scoring twice in the opening quarter of an hour.

First, Reus played a onetwo with Grosskreut­z and beat Marwin Hitz in goal with a lovely finish, and then a Reus corner from the right was headed home by Papastatho­poulos.

Striker Ramos came off the bench in the 73rd minute and scored his first goal for his new club five minutes later.

Augsburg, who lost 2- 0 at Hoffenheim on the opening weekend, reduced the arrears in the 82nd minute through burly Argentine striker Raul Bobadilla and his fellow substitute Tim Matavz headed in another goal with a minute remaining, but it proved too little, too late for Markus Weinzierl’s side.

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