Erling Haaland scores brace on return from injury as Borussia Dortmund beat Mainz

Borussia Dortmund just about got the job done against Mainz 05, as goals from Marco Reus and Erling Haaland (x2) helped them earn a 3-1 win. 

Borussia Dortmund are back to the top of the Bundesliga standings (at least for the next 24 hours) after earning a 3-1 win against Mainz 05 in front of 63,000 supporters at the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday afternoon. Erling Haaland marked his return from injury by scoring a brace and taking his BVB tally to 70 goals. Marco Reus was also on target for the Black and Yellows.

It wasn’t the most straightforward of wins, and Marco Rose will no doubt have been left irritated with some of the team’s play in the final quarter of the game. But he will also be pleased with the fact that his players got the job done in the end.

With Erling Haaland back from injury, Borussia Dortmund came out of the blocks quickly and opened the scoring in just the third minute. Thomas Meunier’s cross was deflected into the path of Marco Reus, and the BVB captain thumped the ball into the top corner with sublime technique.

Borussia Dortmund remained in complete control of the game after taking the lead. But chances were few and far between for the majority of the first half. Dortmund’s next big chance arrived in the first half stoppage time, when Erling Haaland’s shot was well saved before Jude Bellingham’s deflected effort was cleared off the line in the nick of time moments later.

Borussia Dortmund started the second half in dominant fashion. And they got their second goal from the penalty spot, as Erling Haaland won and converted his spot-kick to make it 2-0.

But of course, a Borussia Dortmund game is hardly ever complete without a hint of an opposition comeback. And a mistake from Gregor Kobel allowed Jonathan Burkardt to halve the deficit with three minutes plus stoppage time to go. But Erling Haaland sealed the three points for the Black and Yellows in the 93rd minute after getting on the end of Jude Bellingham’s low cross and finding the back of the net with great composure.

Next up for Borussia Dortmund is a trip to the Netherlands to take on AFC Ajax in the UEFA Champions League group stage.