Dortmund go top as Bayern stunned away at Augsburg
Dortmund's German forward Youssoufa Moukoko celebrates with his teammates after the German first division Bundesliga football match between BVB Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 in Dortmund, western Germany, on September 17, 2022. (Photo by SASCHA SCHUERMANN / AFP)
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Teenage substitute Youssoufa Moukoko fired Borussia Dortmund
top of the Bundesliga on Saturday with a 1-0 derby win over Schalke, as Bayern
Munich suffered their first defeat of the season at Augsburg.
Bayern's 1-0 loss was the fourth time in a row they have
dropped points in the league, after three successive draws.
In Dortmund, the home side looked set to lose another chance
to capitalise on Bayern's slip-up, before a late goal from 17-year-old striker
Moukoko saw them claim all three points.
In Augsburg, the home side roared out of the blocks, clearly
motivated for a big showing against their Bavarian neighbours.
Augsburg's Florian Niederlechner had a golden opportunity to
open the scoring after 11 minutes, but a crucial intervention from Bayern
defender Dayot Upamecano saw his shot scuffed into the hands of Manuel Neuer.
As the half continued, Bayern began to find their rhythm,
with Sadio Mane looking certain to score after 32 minutes before being denied
by a last-ditch lunge from Augsburg's Max Bauer.
Augsburg, who beat Bayern 2-1 in the corresponding fixture
last year, were not content to play for a draw and continually opened Bayern up
on the counter.
The deadlock was eventually broken from an Augsburg
free-kick, with a miscue from Brazilian defender Iago landing perfectly for
Mergim Berisha, who tapped the ball home.
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann reacted immediately, bringing
off right-back Noussair Mazraoui for forward Serge Gnabry.
The visitors continued to press for an equaliser as the match
went on, but Augsburg held on for a deserved victory.
Dortmund's victory over their bitter derby rivals was
tempered by a potentially serious ankle injury to captain Marco Reus.
Reus, who missed Germany's 2014 World Cup triumph due to an
ankle injury, was stretchered off in tears in the 30th minute after a clash
with Schalke defender Florian Flick.
Jude Bellingham went close to the opener after play resumed,
but his glancing header was kept out by a fingertip save from visiting keeper
Alexander Schwolow.
Dortmund striker Anthony Modeste nearly scored with a header
of his own in first-half injury time, but his attempt at a first home goal for
Dortmund bounced just wide.
Modeste was subbed out in the 64th minute for Moukoko, who
immediately added speed and directness up front.
Dortmund's continued pressure on the Schalke goal finally
paid off in the 79th minute, when Moukoko headed in a superb cross from Marius
Wolf.
American forward Gio Reyna - brought on for Reus in the 30th
minute - almost added a second when his gliding effort hit the post two minutes
later.
The victory was Dortmund's fourth 1-0 win in seven games this
season.
Elsewhere, Eintracht Frankfurt made it three wins in their
last four games with a comfortable 3-1 victory at Stuttgart.
In Leverkusen, a 57th-minute goal from Kerem Demirbay looked
set to have secured the home side just their second win of the season, but Milos
Veljkovic salvaged a 1-1 draw for Werder Bremen.
In Saturday's late game, RB Leipzig travel to Borussia
Moenchengladbach.

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