Struggling Borussia Dortmund suffer defeat against Holstein Kiel. In Kiel, even the newly promoted team demonstrates how simple football can be. Doubts about coach Nuri Sahin are only growing.
The catastrophic first half against Holstein Kiel plunges Borussia Dortmund into a new severe crisis. In the 2:4 (0:3) defeat, the BVB, completely disoriented, conceded three goals in less than 45 minutes. The Champions League finalists finish the first half of the Bundesliga season with just 25 points, putting them clearly outside the European places, as coach Nuri Sahin faces turbulent days ahead.
For the sometimes flamboyant Kiel team, which now finds itself second in the standings with eleven points, the goals were scored by Shuto Machino (27th minute), Phil Harres (32nd), and Alexander Bernhardsson (45+4). After the break, Giovanni Reyna (71st) and Jamie Gittens (77th) reduced the score, while veteran Kiel substitute Lewis Holtby received a red card for a dangerous foul (86th). Fiete Arp (90+8) sealed the victory with a long shot into the empty goal.
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The euphoric Kiel fans heavily obscured the field with firecrackers during the first half and at the start of the second, causing two interruptions of play.
Despite the announcement of Donyell Malen’s transfer to Aston Villa before kick-off, Dortmund dominated possession in the first half and earned six corners, but were completely harmless in front of the goal guarded by Timon Weiner. Only a long shot from striker Serhou Guirassy posed a slight threat in the opening minutes.
Just as uninspired in attack, the visitors were also careless in defense. Before the first goal, national player Julian Brandt failed to protect the ball against the impressive Bernhardsson, who quickly served Machino in an ideal position. From 16 yards, the Japanese international scored his seventh goal of the season in magnificent fashion.
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Barely five minutes later it was already 2:0: Lasse Rosenboom sent a powerful cross from the right towards the BVB goal, where Harres reacted faster than Can and scored with a header. For him, it was also his seventh goal of the season.
Although Sahin had to do without several players suffering from illness in the previous match against Leverkusen, he was able to count on Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini, and captain Can in defense against Kiel. Yet stability was lacking.
Again and again, the Kiel team took the initiative on the counterattack and plunged the BVB into chaos. The third goal, scored by Bernhardsson after a beautiful combination on the left flank, caused a new surge of excitement in the icy stadium.
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After the break, Sahin first brought on Waldemar Anton and Maximilian Beier in place of Julian Ryerson and Bensebaini, then brought on Yan Couto and Reyna for Julien Duranville and Marcel Sabitzer.
Indeed, BVB, which is not flamboyant, found its way back into the match. Reyna and Gittens reduced the gap to two goals in the space of six minutes, causing moments of anxiety among the Kiel fans – even more so when Holtby was sent off for committing an unnecessary foul from behind on Felix Nmecha. However, in extended injury time, Arp delivered the fatal blow, pushing the ball into the empty BVB goal from over 40 yards.
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