Dortmund extend perfect start with victory over neighbours Paderborn

Fábio Silva's first-half strike and a late Felix Nmecha brace sealed Borussia Dortmund’s win over Westfalen neighbours Paderborn.

Christof Koepsel/Getty Images

There was a new look to Borussia Dortmund’s lineup as Fábio Silva and Serhou Guirassy started together upfront. Meanwhile, Ethan Nwaneri was handed his first start in Dortmund colors and the captain Nico Schlotterbeck returns from long-standing injury.

Silva and Guirassay were unplayable after the former subbed on in midweek against Villarreal, and it was the same combination that put them in front inside five minutes against newly-promoted Paderborn.

Guirassay was the provider this time as he sent the Portuguese youngster one-on-one with Nahuel Noll. Silva continued his record of a direct goal contribution in every game he has played this season with a tidy finish.

The two attackers combined once again at the half-hour mark, but Guirassy’s goal was chalked off by VAR because of an offside call. The Guinean striker was also punished twice in promising situations inside the box.

Apart from Laurin Curda’s chance in the 20th minute, the visitors were far from coming close to scoring their first goal of the season back in Bundesliga. And there was still time for one more Guirassy moment as the all-action striker was denied by VAR for the second time after scoring with a close-range header.

Guirassy continued to fashion the best chances after the restart, but Noll was solid in Paderborn’s goal. At the end, it was substitute Felix Nmecha who succeeded in beating the shot-stopper with the assist also coming from substitute Maximilian Beier.

Nmecha completed his brace a minute before the end of regular time with a dream bicycle-kick strike. Paderborn are yet to score a goal after their first three games back in Bundesliga. Kovac’s troops started the campaign with three victories.

Dortmund will travel to VfB Stuttgart in next week’s Topspiel, while Paderborn will host Hoffenheim in the last Bundesliga game before the season’s first international break.