Guirassy's Late Strike Helps Dortmund Close Gap on Bayern in Bundesliga Title Race
A dramatic late goal from Serhou Guirassy decided a tight match in Wolfsburg, allowing Borussia Dortmund to secure a 2-1 victory on Saturday and temporarily reduce Bayern Munich's advantage at the Bundesliga summit to three points.
This marked Dortmund's fifth straight league win, lifting Niko Kovac's team to 48 points, just one success away from the previously dominant Bayern, who could reclaim their six-point margin with a win against impressive Hoffenheim on Sunday.
Following an exceptional season opener, the title holders have now gone two matches without a victory, opening the door for Dortmund to harbour hopes of claiming their first championship since 2012 with 13 fixtures remaining.
Dortmund's performance was far from their best, especially after learning before kick-off that skipper Emre Can faces another month out injured.
Nevertheless, they battled to a hard-fought triumph over Wolfsburg, a side with just one win since January, courtesy of strikes from Julian Brandt and Guirassy, sandwiching a equaliser from Konstantinos Koulierakis for the home team.
Max Beier came close to giving Dortmund the lead in the opening period, but his shot was diverted by Denis Vavro's desperate clearance onto the crossbar's underside.
The hosts ignored the close call, however, as Dortmund soon took the lead moments later.
Pivotal moment
From a corner on the left in the 38th minute by Julian Ryerson, Brandt rose highest at the near post ahead of replacement Jan Buerger to head home for the German international.
Dortmund's lead vanished seven minutes after the restart when Koulierakis timed his debut goal for Wolfsburg perfectly, heading powerfully from near range.
As 15th-placed Wolfsburg neared a vital draw, Dortmund crafted a smooth counter, with Guirassy converting smart build-up from Felix Nmecha and Fabio Silva.
The forward delivered an excellent left-footed effort in the 87th minute, marking a successful return to his old club for Dortmund boss Kovac.
The day held significance not only for the title chase but also for the relegation scrap and the race for Champions League spots.
St Pauli, winless since before the winter pause, welcomed fourth-placed Stuttgart, unbeaten in the league since a 5-0 thrashing by Bayern at home on December 6.
Daniel Sinani's smart feint deceived the Stuttgart backline, leaving the ball for Manolis Saliakis to smash in from outside the area for the first goal on 35 minutes.
St Pauli's joy intensified 10 minutes post-interval when Sinani converted a penalty following a VAR check that upheld a handball by Chris Fuehrich, making it 2-0.
Stuttgart managed a late reply via Jamie Leweling in the final minute, but it came too late for the wasteful St Pauli, who edged closer to the sides ahead despite holding 17th position.
St Pauli's local rivals Hamburg also grabbed crucial points, notching their inaugural away win this campaign by beating rock-bottom Heidenheim 2-0.
Mainz continued their resurgence with another 2-0 success against Augsburg, under Swiss coach Urs Fischer, who has steered them from the foot of the standings to 13th in short order.
Nadiem Amiri netted both from the spot, one before and one after half-time, extending their run to four victories in five before facing Dortmund next weekend.
Werder Bremen suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to a stunning long-range effort from Freiburg's Jan-Niklas Beste, prolonging their trophyless sequence to 11 outings.
Bremen's dismal streak, the worst in the Bundesliga, led to manager Horst Steffen's sacking last week, with Daniel Thioune stepping in as his successor.