Dortmund Beat Stubborn Mainz to Claim Top Spot News

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Dortmund Beat Stubborn Mainz to Claim Top Spot

By Daily Sports on April 14, 2019

Jadon Sancho’s first-half brace and Roman Buerki’s goalkeeping heroics helped pile the pressure back onto Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga title race as Borussia Dortmund survived a late scare to secure a 2-1 win over Mainz on Saturday.

Dortmund were left licking their wounds after a 5-0 humiliation in Munich last weekend saw them slip a point behind Bayern, but they showed both steel and style on Saturday to secure three points and go top of the table overnight.

Two early goals from England international Sancho appeared to put Dortmund on course for an easy victory, but they were forced to weather a second-half onslaught from Mainz.

“We knew we needed to make a statement today. The first half was fine, but I can’t explain why we stopped playing football in the second half,” Dortmund captain Marco Reus told Sky.

“It is a question of mentality. We have a lot of young players, and we need to stay relaxed and keep having fun.”

Reus, Sancho and co will now go to bed as league leaders, with Bayern needing a win at Fortuna Duesseldorf on Sunday to regain their grip on top spot.

Dortmund took the lead with an inch-perfect move on 17 minutes. Mario Goetze’s bending cross found Sancho, who didn’t even break his stride as he thumped the ball past Florian Mueller from close range.

Sancho doubled the lead shortly afterwards with the help of a deflection from Moussa Niakhate.

Yet a familiar fragility crept into Dortmund’s defending as the game wore on, and they were forced to rely on the determined brilliance of Buerki.

The Dortmund keeper kept Mainz at bay for much of the second half, before Robin Quaison pulled a goal back for Mainz six minutes from time. (SuperSport)

•Photo shows Dortmund players

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 14, 2019