By Daily Sports on December 19, 2021
Marco Richter scored twice as hosts Hertha Berlin earned a shock 3-2 win over second-placed Borussia Dortmund Saturday to leave Bayern Munich nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Julian Brandt gave Dortmund a first-half lead, but Hertha roared back with three unanswered goals at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium as Ishak Belfodil equalised before Richter scored twice.
Dortmund substitute striker Steffen Tigges pulled one back shortly after replacing Brandt, but the visitors head into the winter break having won just once in their last four league games.
“We gave the game away,” admitted Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz. “We did nothing in the 20 minutes after half-time and only after were we back in it.”
Bayern thrashed Wolfsburg 4-0 on Friday and will start the new year as overwhelming favourites for a 10th straight Bundesliga title.
Just four days after losing 4-0 at mid-table Mainz, Hertha bossed Dortmund and crucially kept Erling Haaland quiet after the Norwegian had scored four goals in a 5-2 romp in the same fixture last season. Haaland barely had one shot on goal and showed his frustration at Dortmund’s poor display as Hertha fought hard from the first whistle.
Forward Myziane Maolida tapped an early shot past Hitz, but the goal was disallowed with Belfodil marginally offside. Dortmund took the lead when Haaland spotted a run by Brandt, who chipped in with half an hour gone.
It stayed 1-0 at the break, but Hertha stamped their authority with two goals within six minutes. Belfodil beat Axel Witsel and tucked his shot under Hitz to claim his first Bundesliga goal for three years.
Moments later Brandt lost possession and Maolida laid it off to his right for Richter to hammer in. He then grabbed his second after getting in behind the defence following Brandt’s loose pass before Tigges gave Dortmund late hope. (AFP)
•PHOTO: Hertha players celebrate
Source Daily Sports
Posted December 19, 2021
You may also like...
Southgate: England interim boss completes interview
Kane Remains Manchester City’s Top Transfer Target Amid...
Italy, Juventus Star Federico Chiesa To Miss World...
Naira Rain As Soludo Gifts N8m Cash Reward...
Nwankwo Kanu Opens New Football School
Man City ‘On Fire’ In Training After Derby...

Super Falcons unveil 10-star jersey ahead of WAFCON 2026
From Sporting Lisbon to Al Nassr: Ronaldo’s records so far
WAFCON favourites Nigeria eye World Cup slot, record prize money
Wikki Tourists administrator tasks players, coaches on NPFL return
Golf: Port Harcourt to host Nigerian National Finals
I’ve had enough, sprinter Onyah threatens to dump Nigeria
Onyeka warns teammates ahead EPL opener
The real money behind football’s biggest prizes
Nigeria to host CAF General Assembly November
Lessons from the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals
NSSF boss Joseph elected ISF Africa president
Nigeria seek final spots at ITTF Africa Youth Champs
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,973 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,323 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,225 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,830 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,710 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,581 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,474 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,987 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,203 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,673 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,155 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,535 views)