In a dramatic Bundesliga showdown on Sunday, Borussia Dortmund edged past bottom-placed Heidenheim 3-2, thanks to a double from Serhou Guirassy. This result slashed Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the table to just six points, capitalizing on Bayern's surprising 2-2 draw against Hamburger SV the previous day.
Guirassy's Mixed Penalty Performance Raises Questions
Serhou Guirassy, the Guinea international, was at the center of the action, scoring one penalty and adding another goal from open play. However, his penalty-taking abilities came under scrutiny when he missed a second spot-kick in the 85th minute, sending the ball soaring over the bar. This follows previous misses against Villarreal in the Champions League and St. Pauli earlier in the season, leaving fans and analysts questioning his reliability from the spot.
Heidenheim's Late Chances and Controversial Calls
Heidenheim, despite their position at the foot of the table, pushed Dortmund to the limit, missing several late opportunities to equalize. The match was not without controversy, as Heidenheim players and coach Frank Schmidt expressed frustration over a disallowed goal. Eren Dinkçi had a similar effort ruled out after pressuring Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, with officials deeming it a foul.
Key Moments and Injuries Shape the Match
The deadlock was broken by Waldemar Anton, who capitalized on a loose ball after Heidenheim keeper Diant Ramaj failed to hold a corner under Guirassy's pressure. Heidenheim responded before halftime with Julian Niehues scoring, following a surge down the left by Mathias Honsak. Dortmund suffered a setback when Filippo Mané appeared to injure his hamstring, leading to his substitution by Niklas Süle in the second half.
Niehues struck again for Heidenheim with a deflected shot, set up by Arijon Ibrahimović's impressive run past four defenders. However, Dortmund regained control when Niklas Dorsch was penalized for handball in the 67th minute, allowing Guirassy to equalize from the penalty spot. Less than a minute later, Guirassy added his second with a precise low shot inside the right post, bringing his league tally to eight goals this season.
Stuttgart's Late Winner Boosts Champions League Hopes
In another Bundesliga fixture, Ermedin Demirović scored a stunning last-minute goal to secure a 1-0 victory for Stuttgart over Freiburg. This win propelled Stuttgart into fourth place, the final spot for Champions League qualification. Demirović expertly controlled Deniz Undav's cross and fired a brilliant strike under the crossbar, with goalkeeper Alexander Nübel denying any response from Freiburg.
Stuttgart capitalized on Leipzig's defeat to Mainz, moving three points ahead with 14 rounds remaining in the season. This result underscores the intense competition for European spots in the Bundesliga, adding to the drama of the league's climax.
