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Borussia Dortmund whistled into the winter break after failing to snap winless run in Bundesliga

Tue, Dec 19, 2023
Soccer News (AP)

BERLIN (AP) - Borussia Dortmund was whistled into the winter break by its own fans Tuesday after struggling Mainz fought back to earn a 1-1 draw, stretching the home team's winless run in the Bundesliga to four games.

Dortmund coach Edin Terzic and the players did receive some applause and encouragement after approaching supporters after the match, but there was little festive cheer for the team as it finished the year without a win in any of its last six games across all competitions.

They had started well against Mainz, the team that thwarted Dortmund's title hopes on the final day last season.

Julian Brandt rewarded Dortmund's positive start with a brilliant free kick inside the top right corner in the 29th minute.

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Mainz only threatened before the break, when Gregor Kobel deflected Marco Richter's effort to the right.

But Sepp van den Berg equalized after the resultant corner in the 43rd, when Dortmund's defense failed to properly clear the danger and Phillipp Mwene was left unharried to find van den Berg at the far post with his cross.

Dortmund struggled to reassert its dominance in the second half. Terzic sent on Sebastien Haller and the 19-year-old Samuel Bamba to reinvigorate his attack, then U.S. forward Gio Reyna for defender Nico Schlotterbeck in the 72nd.

Dortmund had more of the ball in the latter stages but looked incapable of breaking through.

Mainz created better opportunities to win. Jonathan Burkardt should have scored when he only had Kobel to beat but somehow the Mainz substitute scuffed his shot.

Reyna thought he'd scored in the last minute but his celebrations were cut short by the linesman's flag. A VAR check confirmed the offside call.

Donyell Malen had a shot saved in stoppage time as Dortmund finally began to threaten, albeit too late.

FORSBERG FAREWELL

Third-place Leipzig was held 1-1 at Werder Bremen in Emil Forsberg's last game before his switch to New York Red Bulls.

Leipzig was leading when Forsberg went off to applause from teammates and best wishes from opponents in the 62nd. Forsberg had played Loïs Openda through and the Belgian forward scored at the third attempt in the 47th after Bremen goalkeeper Michael Zetterer blocked his first two efforts.

But Justin Njinmah grabbed a point for Bremen when he fired into the far corner for the equalizer in the 75th.

Also, Hoffenheim drew with Darmstadt 3-3.

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