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

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