Borussia Dortmund’s struggles within the league continued with a 4-2 loss at Holstein Kiel on Tuesday, elevating the warmth on under-fire coach Nuri Sahin.
Dortmund had been closely favoured towards their promoted opponents, who sit second-last within the desk however had been overrun as Kiel scored three targets in 22 first-half minutes.
Shuto Machino, Phil Harres and Alexander Bernhardsson discovered the web to have Kiel up by three at half-time.
Dortmund’s Gio Reyna and Jamie Gittens scored within the second half however the guests couldn’t pull off an unlikely comeback, with Jann-Fiete Arp scoring Kiel’s fourth in stoppage time.
Captain Emre Can stated Dortmund’s woes had been “nothing to do with the coach — we as gamers are accountable”.
“With all due respect to Kiel, we are able to’t play like that. It’s a matter of honour,” the 31-year-old added.
Kiel have now gained two of their final three to spice up their probabilities of avoiding a direct relegation.
With half the season performed, Dortmund sit eighth, 14 factors behind league leaders Bayern Munich.
Questions will proceed to be requested of coach Sahin, who changed Edin Terzic in the summertime, regardless of the latter taking Dortmund to the Champions League closing in June.
With want-away ahead Donyell Malen becoming a member of Aston Villa simply an hour earlier than kick-off, Sahin handed teenage ahead Julien Duranville a beginning XI debut.
In chilly, foggy situations on Germany’s northern coast, Dortmund dominated possession for a lot of the primary half-hour, however had been unable to interrupt by means of the dogged hosts.
With 27 minutes gone, Kiel compelled Julian Brandt into an error close to his personal penalty field, Bernhardsson then discovered Machino who blasted within the opener.
Harres, a fourth-division participant this time final season, doubled Kiel’s lead with a intelligent header on the counter shortly afterwards.
Kiel hit a 3rd simply earlier than half-time, Bernhardsson tapping in a Harres cross to have Dortmund reeling.
Sahin made 4 attacking adjustments within the opening quarter-hour of the second half as Dortmund pursued an unlikely comeback.
However regardless of targets by Reyna and Gittens, the away aspect had been unable to discover a third, whilst Kiel’s Lewis Holtby was crimson carded with 4 minutes remaining for a tough problem.
Native boy Arp scored within the eighth minute of stoppage time to seal a well-known Kiel win.
In a while Tuesday, champions Bayer Leverkusen can shut the hole on league leaders Bayern Munich with a victory at residence towards fifth-placed Mainz.
AFP