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Mkhitaryan, Gundogan the Keys to Dissecting Hoffenheim's Defense

Midfielders paves the way to Dortmund victory

Lars Baron/Getty Images

After 79 minutes at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund had yet to score and it didn't look as if they would.

But then the breakthrough.

Ilkay Gundogan slid the coolest of passes through the five-man Hoffenheim backline towards a barnstorming Mkhitaryan, and his simplistic finish from the most difficult of angles was the start of a magisterial comeback by the home side.

Mkhitaryan continued to create chance after chance, and in the 84th minute nearly found Aubameyang for another one, but the sure-footed striker couldn't get a clean shot.

But it would be Gundogan providing the service for the eventual game-winning goal, as his pass once again found its way through the Hoffenheim defense and allowed Lukasz Piszczek to provide a cross which Adrian Ramos headed home.

Hoffenheim, despite being down to 10 men, continued to attack. But their efforts would be denied at the death as Dortmund's ever-dangerous counter-attack went to work.

Mkhitaryan found Aubameyang for an easy slot home to ice the game and three points for Dortmund.