BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund snatched a topsy-turvy 4-3 victory over Augsburg on Sunday with striker Sebastien Haller making a second half substitute appearance following his cancer treatment.

Augsburg managed to equalise three times before Gio Reyna’s 78th minute looping shot gave the hosts victory in their season restart following a two-month break.

Dortmund, who saw Ivory Coast forward Haller come on as a second half substitute for his first appearance after his surgeries and therapy for testicular cancer since July, are sixth on 28 points.

“Obviously I got goosebumps with the welcome I got,” said Haller, who was signed only weeks before his pre-season cancer diagnosis. “It was unbelievable and unforgettable. I was just happy to be here and take the first steps on the pitch. We all enjoyed the moment.”

Dortmund struck after 29 minutes with Jude Bellingham weaving a shot through three defenders after creating just the bit of space he needed with a superb move.

That was the start of an entertaining final 15 minutes to the first half with Nico Schlotterbeck’s mistake leading to Augsburg’s 40th minute equaliser with Arne Maier’s low drive.

Schlotterbeck redeemed himself immediately, however, heading in a Julian Brandt free-kick to put Dortmund up 2-1.

Augsburg equalised in stoppage time, Ermedin Demirovic chipping over Dortmund ‘keeper Gregor Kobel for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Dortmund coach Edin Terzic brought on Haller and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens after the hour mark to add more punch to his attack and it paid off with the latter thundering in their third goal from outside the box in the 75th.

Augsburg’s David Colina hit back less than a minute later but Dortmund reclaimed the lead two minutes after that, when US forward Reyna lifted the ball over Rafal Gikiewicz and into the back of the net.

In Sunday’s late game, goals from Mitchel Bakker, Amine Adli and Nadiem Amiri lifted Bayer Leverkusen to a 3-2 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Bakker pounced on a deflected shot from Adam Hlozek after 21 minutes, before French winger Adli doubled the visitors’ lead just before half time.

Amiri replaced Hlozek in the 64th minute, scoring just three minutes later. Gladbach captain Lars Stindl scored two late goals to keep Leverkusen on their toes, but the visitors held on for their fourth straight victory.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2023