From BZ/dpa
Bitter defeat for 1. FC Union!
Borussia Dortmund won the duel between Bayern’s pursuers and the Irons and, after two hard defeats, created a spirit of optimism in the title race.
At the end of a bitter week of football with the defeat at the Bundesliga summit in Munich and the cup in Leipzig, coach Edin Terzic’s team deservedly defeated the Union 2-1 (1-0). With a further two points behind, the Revierclub stays tuned to FC Bayern Munich. In addition, the significantly improved BVB distanced the third-placed Berliners to five points.
In front of 81,365 spectators in Dortmund, Donyell Malen (28th minute) gave the hosts the lead on Saturday. In the meantime, Kevin Behrens equalized for the Berliners (61′), before Youssoufa Moukoko, who had just come on as a substitute, caused huge cheers in the stadium with his winning goal (79′). For the surprise team Union, the defeat four days after the 0-2 in the DFB Cup at Eintracht Frankfurt was the next disappointment.
“We made one crucial mistake too many,” Rani Khedira said after the party on Sky.
Artistic performance by Dortmund’s super talent Jude Bellingham in a duel with Union’s Danilho Doekhi Photo: INA FASSBENDER / AFP
BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke had called for a “clear reaction” from the team before the game, while Terzic had called for “a different face” for his team before his 50th Bundesliga game as head coach. At least in terms of personnel, the 40-year-old made sure of it himself three days after BVB’s frighteningly weak performance in Leipzig: Karim Adeyemi and Sébastien Haller were back on the offensive. In midfield, the recently criticized youngster Jude Bellingham was back in the starting XI. Among others, captain Marco Reus first had to go to the bench.
At Union, coach Urs Fischer made four changes compared to the 2-0 defeat in the cup at Eintracht Frankfurt. First-choice goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow returned to the goal. In addition, Paul Jaeckel, Niko Gießelmann and Morten Thorsby were new to the starting line-up.
28th minute: Donyell Malen pushes the ball over the line to make it 1-0 for Dortmund Photo: AP Photo/Martin Meissner
With an impressive choreography under the motto “Forever Westfalenstadion” the Dortmund fans got their team in the mood for the game. On the pitch, Union leveled the game against a committed but initially ineffective BVB. The Berliners, who had had major problems in the first half of their previous three games, held the ball well and kept the ball away from their own goal. In the first 25 minutes, Borussia did not achieve much more than a single action by Adeyemi, which he ended with a swallow.
Dortmund then took the lead in their first really dangerous scene in the penalty area. Malen escaped Niko Gießelmann in the six-yard box and only had to push a low cross from Raphael Guerreiro over the line. BVB now controlled the game and let the ball run safely through their own ranks. Haller had a great chance to make it 2-0, but failed with his header at Union keeper Frederik Rönnow. The 30-year-old returned to goal after recovering from injury.
Kevin Behrens scores to make it 1-1 for Union. Dortmund’s Mats Hummels tackles too late Photo: REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler
Union needed to do more on offense and they did. The Köpenicker shifted the game more often into the Dortmund half and proved efficiency: with the first big chance to score, Behrens equalized with a low shot.
The encounter was now completely open. Both teams played forward. With unintentional help from the guests, BVB rewarded themselves for their offensive efforts. Union’s Paul Seguin played the ball into Moukoko’s run and the striker scored in his 50th Bundesliga game.
At 18 years and 139 days, Moukoko was the youngest player in Bundesliga history to break the 50-game mark.