Beier double sends Hoffenheim past disappointing Dortmund
RB Leipzig's last-minute loss at Bayern Munich on Saturday opened the door for Dortmund to go four points clear in fourth-place with a win but they were defensively disorganised, making clear errors in the lead-up to all of Hoffenheim's goals. "With individual mistakes we gave the opponents their belief back and allowed them to turn the game around," said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic.
Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt lamented his side's "drastic ball losses", telling DAZN "we made mistakes and we were punished." Dortmund's first loss since early December was the visitors' first win since the same weekend, releasing pressure on their American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.
Dortmund gifted Hoffenheim the lead after just two minutes, a mix-up between Nico Schlotterbeck and makeshift centre-back Emre Can allowing Ilhas Bebou to score. The home side pegged Hoffenheim back in their own penalty box after the blunder, scoring two goals in four minutes midway through the opening half.
Donyell Malen volleyed in a Marco Reus flick from close range for his 10th league goal this campaign. Schlotterbeck then made good on his defensive mistake, heading in a Reus free kick for Dortmund's second. With the hosts in control but unable to score a third, it was Hoffenheim's turn to score a quick-fire double and retake the lead, with both goals coming from Dortmund losing possession.
Beier's 61st-minute shot took a wicked deflection off Schlotterbeck and into the goal and the striker scored again three minutes later, tapping in an Anton Stach pass from close range. "It's really nice. We came out here in the second-half and we turned things around," said Beier.
Dortmund captain Can had a late chance to snare a point, but he headed over the crossbar,
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