ESSEN: A 79th-minute goal from Serhou Guirassy took Borussia Dortmund to a 1-0 win at neighbours Essen in the first round of the German Cup on Monday.

Five-time German Cup winners Dortmund struggled against their third division opponents, carving out few opportunities.

With the match drifting towards extra time, Guirassy collected the ball outside the penalty area and hit a low shot inside the right post to take the lead for the visitors.

In stoppage time, Essen midfielder Kelsey Owusu fouled Dortmund wingback Yan Couto and the Brazilian needed to be stretchered from the pitch.

Dortmund and Essen lie 35 kilometres away from each other in Germany’s crowded and football-mad Ruhr region.

The last time the two sides met was in 2008, when future Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp made his debut as Dortmund manager.

Earlier on Monday, Mainz, Hertha Berlin and Fortuna Duesseldorf also made it through their first round ties against lower division opposition.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2025