Two coaches pay homage to a world-class striker | OneFootball

“It was important for us to advance to the next round,” said Niko Kovac after the drastically reduced preseason. His team did everything right in the first 20 minutes and played the way you have to play against courageous and determined underdogs. “We visualised scenarios in which we might have at least a small chance,” commented Essen coach Uwe Koschinat late in the evening at the post-match press conference: “We’re already deep in competition, we’ve got our ninth week behind us.” But even he found “Dortmund’s start simply outstanding; very, very dominant.” If we fell behind early, it probably would have been an easy game for Borussia.”

But since Kovac’s team only managed to create “a few half-chances” and gave their opponents an opening with a few minor defensive lapses, “the game became a bit wild,” according to the BVB coach: “That was what I didn’t want. It was too open. We were caught on the counter twice," he added. A strong save from Gregor Kobel was required to prevent RWE from taking a 1-0 lead.

After a second half with few chances on either side, “a single piece of skill from a world-class player decided the game,” said Kovac. Serhou Guirassy picked up where he left off last season. Essen had failed to “lock Guirassy down to stop him getting into the danger area,” as Koschinat joked before and after the game: “In such a close game, he made the difference. An incredible move, a turn, a finish. Outstanding. A single piece of skill from an exceptional player decided the game.”

Like 14 other Bundesliga clubs (Bayern and Stuttgart are still to play) and only two semi-pro clubs – Regionalliga side FV Illertissen and third-tier Energie Cottbus – Borussia Dortmund will be in the draw for the second round on 31 August at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. Felix Brych will draw the ties, which will be played at the end of October. Boris Rupert