Aubameyang gets Dortmund off to winning start

Bundesliga

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first goals of the season gave Borussia Dortmund a 2-1 win over Mainz while Schalke lost its opening Bundesliga game 1-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt yesterday.

Aubameyang, who told Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski “the race is started” after his hat trick on Friday, got off the mark in the 17th minute when Andre Schuerrle produced a brilliant floated cross for the Gabon striker to head inside the far post.

The goal spurred Mainz into a response and the visitors went close – forcing Roman Buerki into action – shooting over, then drawing another save from Buerki before Dortmund recovered.

Christian Clemens missed a good chance to equalise after the break, but Aubameyang sealed the result with a penalty in the 89th after Karim Onisiwo pulled Schuerrle back.

Yoshinori Muto claimed Mainz’ consolation in injury time.

Much is expected of Schalke this season but the side got off to a poor start in Frankfurt.

Alexander Meier’s 13th-minute strike was enough for the home team, which had already hit the post. Schalke didn’t have an attempt on goal until just before the break.

Meier should have made it 2-0 but Ralf Faehrmann saved his weak penalty effort in the second half.

Frankfurt goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky produced an outstand- ing save to deny Klaas Jan Huntelaar an equaliser from a clever free kick after last defender Michael Hector was sent off for bringing the Dutch striker down.

Hamburg SV could only draw 1-1 with visiting Ingolstadt despite United States forward Bobby Wood’s first Bundesliga goal for the home side.

Wood, who joined Hamburg from Union Berlin in the offseason, blasted the ball inside the right post after holding off a defender to Rene Adler’s long kickout.

Lukas Hinterseer equalised for Ingolstadt in the 79th after an attempted clearance.

Also, Wolfsburg won 2-0 at Augsburg, and Cologne beat visiting Darmstadt 2-0 in a game interrupted by a storm in the second half.

Bayern opened its title defence on Friday with a 6-0 rout of Werder Bremen.

Dortmund’s Andre Schuerrle, left, embraces teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, after the latter scored against Mainz Photo: AP