Dortmund's Title Aspirations Dented By Union
19 December, 2020
Bundesliga
Result: Union Berlin 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Date: 18 December 2020
Venue: Stadion An der Alten Försterei
Borussia Dortmund's title aspirations suffered another setback after losing 2-1 to Union Berlin in their final Bundesliga clash of the year.
Dortmund interim manager Edin Terzic made three changes from the medial side that narrowly beat Werder Bremen, as Manuel Akanji, Thomas Meunier and Emre Can all returned to boost the medial side, with teenage striker Youssoufa Moukoko leading the attack in the lack of Erling Haaland.
Jadon Sancho had an excellent chance to provide the visitors an early on lead in the tenth minute after getting a cross from Moukoko unmarked inside box but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Andreas Luthe.
Union also fancied their chances as Taiwo Awoniyi had an excellent chance seven minutes later after going right through on goal but his low shot was brilliantly saved by shot-stopper Roman Burki.
Moukoko had a large chance to provide Terzic's charges the lead prior to going to the break on the stroke of halftime after acquiring a pass on the edge of the box but his powerful strike hit the post.
After a scoreless first half, Awoniyi eventually broke the deadlock for Union 3 minutes prior to the hour-mark with a close-range header after a flick on by Grischa Promel.
Dortmund replied immediately from the restart after Moukoko went through from Raphael Guerreiro's pass inside box and curled his strike into the top corner for his first league goal for the club.
While Dortmund were in the ascendancy, Marvin Friedrich restored the lead for the house side within the last 12 minutes with a bullet header from a corner.
Dortmund were not able to claw themselves back into the contest as the Berlin side held on for their first victory in five matches that took them up to fifth up for grabs, only a point behind fourth-placed Dortmund.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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