Germany Striker Jadon Sancho contributed an assist, helping Dortmund beat Darmstadt 3-0 in round 17 of the Bundesliga on January 13.
Sancho came on in the 55th minute, replacing Jamie Bynoe-Gittens with Dortmund leading 1-0. The 23-year-old needed just 22 minutes to make his mark on his Bundesliga return, when he crossed for Marco Reus to tap the ball into an empty net. Sancho could have even had two assists if Youssoufa Moukoko had not missed a shot in the final minute of stoppage time. Before that, Moukoko himself sealed a 3-0 victory for Dortmund, also in stoppage time.
Sancho (right) celebrates with Marco Reus after Dortmund's second goal at Darmstadt on January 13. Photo: Reuters
"I'm very happy to have assisted my great friend Marco Reus," Sancho said after the match. "It feels like coming home to Dortmund. My goal is to play well in every game to help the team qualify for the Champions League."
Sancho signed for Dortmund in 2017, when he was just 17. He played for four years for the Ruhr team, before moving to Man Utd in 2021 for $93 million. This season, Sancho has not played since August 2023 due to a conflict with Man Utd coach Erik ten Hag.
Just two days after returning to Dortmund on loan, Sancho provided his 64th assist for the German club and his ninth for Reus. Dortmund had taken the lead thanks to Julian Brandt's first-half opener.
In nearly 40 minutes of play against Darmstadt, Sancho touched the ball 28 times, shot once, assisted one goal and won 100% of his duels. Thanks to the brilliance of the English striker, Dortmund ended their eight-game streak of draws and losses. The 3-0 win at bottom-placed Darmstadt helped Edin Terzic's team reduce the gap to the top 4 to three points. However, Dortmund are almost out of the title race as they are 15 points behind top-placed Leverkusen.
Sancho's loan deal from Man Utd to Dortmund is for six months. With Sancho having almost no chance of returning to the "Red Devils", his shining in Dortmund's shirt could help Man Utd earn more money if they sell the player in the summer of 2024. German media have begun to compare Sancho with current Man Utd right-back Antony, who has not scored or assisted a single goal after more than 1,200 minutes of playing time this season.
Vy Anh
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