German cup 2025: Guirassy sends Dortmund against the local rival Essen

Serhou Guirassy fired Borussia Dortmund in the second round of the German cup with a 1-0 win at nearby Rot-Weiss Essen on Monday.

But the celebrations of Dortmund were filled in by a bad tackle from Essen replacement Kelsey Owusu on Yan Couto in stopping time, when he caught the knee of the wing with the sole of his boot. Couto was drained on a stretcher with his hands over his face.

Dortmund was already without wounded defenders Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can. The team will open its Bundesliga campaign in St. Pauli on Saturday.

Guinea star Guirassy took one touch to avoid a defender and in turn hit the ball in the bottom corner in the 79th minute.

The goal came after Essen, the German champion from 1955 who played in the third division, took a few half chances in what was a meager match for goal options.

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Julian Brandt van Dortmund hit the side net and colleague replacement Jobe Bellingham caused Essen’s defense problems after their introduction in the 64th. It was Bellingham’s first competitive performance for Dortmund on German soil since his summer movement from Sunderland.

Dortmund -Coach Niko Kovač led Eintracht Frankfurt to the title in 2018 and repeated the performance with Bayern Munich the following year.

The brilliant free kick of Nadiem ADLI was enough for Mainz to overcome Dynamo Dresden with 1-0 earlier.

The former midfielder of Germany lifted the ball over the defensive wall and in the left post in the 22nd minute, the only goal of a match in which Club Dresden missed more opportunities.

Mainz coach Bo Henriksen was sent away late because he held the ball as the tension increased in a nerve final.

Sebastian Grönning scored the winning place for Hertha Berlin to make progress against Second Division Rival Prueßen Münster 5-3 on penalties after their match ended scoreless with extra time.

The home team had by far the larger chances – 27 shots compared to Herthas 11 – but could not have any of them counted.

So, Fortuna Düsseldorf won at Doud-Division Schweinfurt 4-2.

Defending champion Stuttgart and League Champion Bayern had postponed their cup matches because of their participation in the German Supercup on Saturday. Stuttgart starts his title defense in Eintracht Braunschweig on 26 August with Bayern who plays the third division side Wehen Wiesbaden the next day.

There were few shocks in the first round with Werder Bremen, the only Bundesliga team that was eliminated. Arminia Bielefeld, who eliminated a large number of Bundesliga clubs, including Bremen, on the way to the final last season, provided one of the few disruptions by re -elicit Bremen on Friday.