Borussia Dortmund scored three goals in a devastating five-minute period to beat Wolfsburg 3-1 and finish the year in the top six of the Bundesliga. Dortmund came into this game without a win in their previous three league matches but produced some stylish attacking displays to demolish Wolfsburg on the road. Dutchman Donyell Malen got the ball rolling with a close-range corner from Rami Bensebaini. The visitors doubled their lead thanks to impressive young German star Max Bayer, who faced Julian BrandtHe took a through ball and struck superbly with the outside of his right leg the first time.
Bayer became the provider just two minutes later, cutting home a low cross for the unmarked Brandt to find the bottom corner.
Wolfsburg were stunned, conceding in the 25th, 28th and 30th minutes, and the rest of the contest was a damage limitation exercise for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, although they pulled one goal back in the second half through Denis Vawro.
Just after the hour, Dortmund had Pascal Gross sent off but it did not threaten to derail the victory, which keeps them within two points of third place.
“We played very well in the first half, had very good positional play and continued to move forward with determination,” said the Dortmund coach. Nuri Sahin.
“In the second half we unnecessarily let the opposition get back into the game and you have to defend. Then you will get a red card, which is unnecessary.”
In a good weekend for the teams from Germany’s Ruhr region, Bochum beat relegation rivals Heidenheim 2-0 to claim their first win of the Bundesliga season.
Bochum took the lead from bottom of the table through striker Moritz Broszynski, whose deft low volley rewarded Ibrahima Sissoko’s quality cross from the right.
Bochum, who brought in veteran coach Dieter Hecking last month in hopes of sparking the season and saving them from relegation, have emerged as the hungrier of the teams.
When the second goal was scored, Bochum deserved it no less.
Matus Bero created space on the edge of the box and fired home from 15 meters to give the hosts complete control before the break.
Heidenheim improved after the restart but the damage had already been done and Bochum, having lost 11 of their previous 14 games, closed the scoring with a precious three points.
Bochum remain in last place heading into the winter break but finish the calendar year with four points from their last two games and remain within two points of Holstein Kiel, who are directly above them in 17th place.
Meanwhile, 16th-place Heidenheim is in free fall.
Last season, their first in the Bundesliga, was a huge success as they finished eighth and qualified for Europe.
But they are now coming to terms with their seventh straight Bundesliga defeat and are just two points clear of Kiel.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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