Borussia Dortmund had to fight hard for their Matchday 18 victory against St. Pauli, who made an impressive comeback from two goals down. Ricky-Jade Jones equalized for the visitors in the 72nd minute, but the English forward’s moment of glory quickly turned to despair when he gave away a penalty deep in stoppage time.
In the critical moment, BVB captain Emre Can stepped up to take the penalty and successfully converted it in the sixth minute of injury time, securing a crucial three points for the Black-Yellows. Head coach Niko Kovač must have felt his heart racing in those final moments.
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“That’s what football is all about,” Kovač stated. “You think you’ve secured the win, only to find it slipping away.”
“The important thing is that we won, and this victory makes our trip to London easier.”
Dortmund’s win maintains their position as they prepare for a midweek trip to London, where they will face the struggling Tottenham Hotspur in an effort to secure their spot in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League.