Frank Onyeka (L) of FC Augsburg vies with Marcel Sabitzer of Borussia Dortmund during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
BERLIN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Leipzig bounced back from a goal down to beat Freiburg 3-1 and move top of the Bundesliga table in the eighth round on Saturday.
Leipzig controlled possession from the kick-off and went close in the eighth minute when Lois Openda shot over from 13 meters.
Freiburg also threatened three minutes later when Eren Dinkci shot wide after good work by Ritsu Doan.
Doan remained in the thick of things and opened the scoring in the 15th minute when the Japanese international headed Vincenzo Grifo's cross inside the far post.
Leipzig came alive towards the end of the first half, with Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu denying Benjamin Sesko in quick succession.
Marco Rose's men made a fairytale start to the second half as Freiburg failed to clear the ball, allowing Benjamin Heinrichs to pass into the path of Willi Orban, who slotted home from close range in the 47th minute.
Leipzig gained momentum and turned the table around on the hour mark when Openda's square pass allowed Lutsharel Geertruida to score.
Leipzig then began to play more offensively, while Freiburg struggled to create clear-cut chances, and in the 79th minute, they made it 3-1 when Andre Silva's through ball found Openda, who scored from a tight angle.
The win sees Leipzig climb to the top of the Bundesliga table, while Freiburg slip to fourth.
"The performance of my team was unbelievable. To believe in yourself like that, to come back after going behind and to defend the win so passionately at the end makes me proud as a coach," said Rose.
In Saturday's other matches, Augsburg beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 thanks to a brace from Alexis Claude-Maurice. Werder Bremen came from behind twice to hold titleholders Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-2 stalemate. Stuttgart beat Holstein Kiel 2-1, while St. Pauli and Wolfsburg played out a goalless draw. ■
Philip Tietz (L) of FC Augsburg vies with Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Kristijan Jakic (front L) of FC Augsburg vies with Nico Schlotterbeck (front R) of Borussia Dortmund during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Samuel Essende (R) of FC Augsburg vies with Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Players of FC Augsburg intercept a shot from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (1st L) of Borussia Dortmund during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
FC Augsburg's goalkeeper Nediljko Labrovic (L) vies with Maximilian Beier of Borussia Dortmund during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Henri Koudossou (front R) of FC Augsburg vies with Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (front L) of Borussia Dortmund during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Frank Onyeka (L) of FC Augsburg vies with Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Samuel Essende (L) of FC Augsburg vies with Almugera Kabar of Borussia Dortmund during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund in Augsburg, Germany, Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
