Dortmund snatch Europa victory with dramatic last-minute winner

By foxsports
Published

Park Joo-ho headed a last-gasp winner as Borussia Dortmund came from behind to launch their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 win over Krasnodar.

The Bundlesliga outfit had dominated after cancelling out Pavel Mamaev's early goal through Matthias Ginter but seemed to be running out of time to claim victory at Signal Iduna Park. Krasnodar goalkeeper Andriy Dykan produced a number of saves and Sergei Petrov cleared off the line to frustrate Dortmund but the hosts eventually broke through as the Group C encounter went into injury time.

The Germans left the field to much relief having been almost made to pay for a sluggish start. They conceded in the 12th minute as the lively Fedor Smolov broke clear on the right and wrong-footed Ginter to cross from the byline. Mamaev timed his run well, coming in unmarked at the near post to turn the ball home.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan fired a long-range shot wide in response but it took some time for Dortmund to settle and take control. More than half an hour had gone before they had a serious opening but Gonzalo Castro wasted the chance, firing high and wide from Ginter's square ball.

Adnan Januzaj began to trouble Krasnodar and played in Mkhitaryan but Dykan smothered his effort. Dykan saved again as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang met a Januzaj corner with a firm volley. Dortmund levelled on the stroke of half-time as Park floated a cross into the box and Ginter leaped to meet it with a firm header.

Januzaj and Mkhitaryan both had chances early in the second half as Dortmund, with Shinji Kagawa coming off the bench to add further impetus, upped the tempo. Mkhitaryan curled an effort wide and Januzaj looked certain to score after combining with Kagawa and turning to shoot, but Dykan produced a brilliant save.

Handling conditions became difficult for Dykan in the rain and he could only parry an Ilkay Gundogan free-kick but Krasnodar scrambled clear. Dykan was then beaten as substitute Adrian Ramos took the ball round him but Petrov cleared at the near post.

Dykan saved again from Ginter but Dortmund pressed until the end. The winner came as Park stooped to meet a deep first-time cross from Ginter.