3
Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho played the full 90 minutes in Borussia Dortmund’s crushing 4-1 defeat to RB Leipzig this afternoon.
Leipzig kicked off just two points clear of Dortmund in the all-important fourth place in the Bundesliga, with the importance of the fixture clear to see.
Sancho started the game in the knowledge that Leipzig are his favoured opponents throughout his career so far, having registered six goals and six wins against Marco Rose’s side – more than any other.
It was confidence that Sancho exhibited 20 minutes into the game as he lit the blue touch paper with an outstanding opener for the visitors.
A hopeful high ball from the right hand side was headed into Sancho’s path on the corner point of the 18-yard-box.
However, there was still tons of work to do as the 23-year-old faced up to the Leipzig defender.
Sancho shifted the ball onto his favoured right foot and bent a delightful strike into the far top corner of Peter Gulacsi’s goal.
Frustratingly for Sancho the lead lasted just four minutes as Lois Openda poked home from close range after a fine Xavi Simons cross.
Leipzig dominated the remainder of the half after the exchange of goals and Sancho’s influence on proceedings diminished with Dortmund pinned back before eventually conceding the lead just before the break.
United striking target Benjamin Sesko pounced on a rebound inside the Dortmund box to fire home and give the home side a deserved lead going into the break.
Sancho re-appeared for the second half as Dortmund set about turning a game around they really couldn’t afford to lose.
However, it didn’t take Leipzig long to double their advantage and land a hammer blow Dortmund’s Champions League hopes as full-back Mohammed Simakan finished a swift counter just 60 seconds after the restart.
Dortmund huffed and puffed and despite some tidy passing, Sancho couldn’t help his side claw their way back into the game before Leipzig finished the contest by scoring a fourth with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Substitute Christoph Baumgartner slotted home to compound a confidence shattering day for Dortmund, all but ending their hopes of finishing above their hosts come the final reckoning.
Sancho will be happy with his goal and was probably Dortmund’s best player on the day despite never really looking likely to grab the game by the scruff of the neck when the going got tough.
His tidy feet will always cause problems in dangerous areas but you still get the feeling something is holding the forward back from being at full tilt.
Sancho and Dortmund will need to dust themselves down for the huge Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain in the week, which now looks like their best chance of qualifying for next year’s competition.
Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: .
