Dortmund win, Bayern drop points in Bundesliga title race

Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-12 05:14:39|Editor: Yurou
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(SP)GERMANY-DORTMUND-SOCCER-BUNDESLIGA-DORTMUND VS DUSSELDORF

Thomas Delaney (R) of Dortmund celebrates scoring with his teammates during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Dusseldorf in Dortmund, Germany, May 11, 2019. Dortmund won 3-2. (Xinhua/Joachim Bywaletz)

BERLIN, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Borussia Dortmund keeps the title race alive after beating newly promoted Fortuna Dusseldorf 3-2 whereas Bayern Munich shared the spoils with third placed Leipzig following a goalless draw at the 33rd round in Bundesliga on Saturday.

The "BVB" won their last game on home soil this season as they overpowered resilient Dusseldorf on the goals from Christian Pulisic, Thomas Delaney and Mario Goetze.

Both sides staged a lively opening period with chances at each end of the pitch as Dodi Lukebakio and Christian Pulisic created the first clear-cut opportunities of the game.

Dusseldorf thought they had opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Lukebakio danced through Dortmund's defence to slot home. However, it was ruled offside.

The opener was scored at the other end of the pitch when Delaney's header allowed Christian Pulisic, who will leave the club this summer, to nod home from close range in the 41st minute.

Dusseldorf caught a bright start into the second half and were able to level the scores in the 47th minute when Markus Suttner's cross found Oliver Fink, whose header slipped through Marwin Hitz hands.

The hosts responded with furious attacks and got rewarded moments later as Delaney slotted home Goetze's assist on 53 minutes.

Dusseldorf had the chance to restore parity once again but Lukebakio squandered a foul-play penalty in the 59th minute.

Adam Bodzek weakened his side in the closing period after receiving his marching orders for a rude foul-play to substitute Jadon Sancho in the 82nd minute.

Dortmund took advantage on their superior numbers and extended the lead to 3-1 as Goetze unleashed a well-placed right-footed shot in the dying minutes of the game.

However, the visitors pulled one back in the injury time when Dawid Kownacki overcame Marwin Hitz from inside the box. Dusseldorf pressed frenetically for the equalizer but Dortmund were able to protect their narrow lead to the end.

With the result, second placed Dortmund reduced the arrears to front-runners Bayern to two points. Dusseldorf slipped to the 11th place of the standings.

Leaders Bayern Munich were held to a goalless draw by Leipzig hence the title race decision has been postponed to the last round in Bundesliga on Saturday.

Leipzig, who already booked their berth for the Champions League, started highly motivated into the clash but still they failed to produce clear-cut opportunities against the German record champions.

As the match progressed, Bayern Munich assumed control and should have opened the scoring but Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gualcsi denied German international Serge Gnabry twice from promising position.

The Bavarians almost scored the opener in the 51st minute but Leon Goretzka's goal was ruled offside.

Bayern posed more threat in the second half but yet Niko Kovac's men were unable to score the winner, which would have sealed the Bundesliga title ahead of schedule.

With the draw, leaders Bayern need only a draw in the last round to lift the title. Leipzig stay on the third position.

Elsewhere, Werder Bremen edged Hoffenheim 1-0 and keep their hopes for a berth in Europe alive as Johannes Eggestein's sole goal of the game sealed the deal.

Stuttgart scored three second-half goals to ease 3-0 past Wolfsburg and will battle for their top-flight status in the relegation play-off games.

Hannover beat Freiburg 3-0 and reaped their fifth win of the season but still they relegate into the second division.

Nuremberg relegate as well after losing 4-0 to Monchengladbach and Hertha Berlin bounced back three times to down Augsburg 4-3.

Frankurt encounter Mainz to conclude the 33rd round in Bundesliga on Sunday.

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