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Football Briefs: Dortmund sink deeper into crisis with loss at Stuttgart

November 18, 2017 12:06 IST

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Borussia Dortmund’s Maximilian Philipp celebrates scoring their first goal against VfB Stuttgart at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart on Friday

IMAGE: Borussia Dortmund’s Maximilian Philipp celebrates scoring their first goal against VfB Stuttgart at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart on Friday. Photograph: Thomas Niedermueller/Reuters

Borussia Dortmund slipped deeper into crisis after losing 2-1 at VfB Stuttgart on Friday for their fourth defeat in the last five Bundesliga matches.

The Ruhr valley club, firm title contenders only a few weeks ago with six wins from their first seven league matches, have lost their winning touch and are without a Bundesliga victory since September, piling pressure on coach Peter Bosz.

Dortmund, who take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League next week, are stuck on 20 points in third place with champions Bayern Munich, top on 26, taking on Augsburg on Saturday.

 

RB Leipzig, four points behind in second, travel to Bayer Leverkusen. Stuttgart, who have now won all of their 16 points this season at home, climbed to 11th.

A disastrous back pass from Marc Bartra allowed Chardac Akolo to slip in and put Stuttgart ahead in the fifth minute.

Dortmund were in control and had their chances but with top striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang suspended, they lacked his finish.

"This defeat is very painful. We came here to win and we are very disappointed," Bosz told reporters. "It is ridiculous how we concede goals. But after the first goal but we played good football.

"Unfortunately, the second half was not that good but we will not give up. We will keep going."

Dortmund still managed a late first-half equaliser with Maximilian Philipp scoring on the rebound after Andre Schuerrle's penalty was saved.

But Josip Brekalo fired in through the legs of keeper Roman Buerki six minutes after the restart to restore their lead with a break that once again took the shaky Dortmund defence by complete surprise.

Eintracht had several more good chances to add to their tally with Brekalo and Berkay Ozcan as frustrated Dortmund ran out of gas.

Ligue 1: Jovetic salvages draw for Monaco at Amiens

Stevan Jovetic struck midway trough the second half to salvage a 1-1 draw for champions Monaco at struggling Amiens in Ligue 1 on Friday.

Jovetic found the back of the net in the 67th minute to cancel out Serge Gakpe's first-half strike as the principality side stayed second in the standings, three points behind leaders Paris St Germain, who take on Nantes on Saturday.

Former Monaco player Gakpe beat Danijel Subasic with a low crossed shot in the 32nd shot after being set up by Gael Kalkuta to put the hosts ahead.

Monaco stepped up a gear after the break and Jovetic equalised from inside the box after collecting a cross from Fabinho.

Earlier, Lille moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a 3-1 home win over sixth-placed St Etienne, easing the pressure on coach Marcelo Bielsa.

Coleman quits Wales, agrees to take over at Sunderland: reports

Chris Coleman has stepped down as Wales manager to take over at Championship side Sunderland, British media reported on Friday.

Coleman has agreed to lead Sunderland who were relegated to England's second tier from the Premier League this year, the reports said.

They have been without a manager since sacking Simon Grayson last month after one win in their opening 16 league matches left them bottom of the standings.

Coleman, who became Wales manager in 2012, led his country to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, their first major tournament since 1958.

However, he was unable to guide them to next year's World Cup as they missed out on qualification from Europe's Group D last month.

The 47-year-old will return to club management having previously coached Fulham and CoventryCity. He also had short spells abroad with Real Sociedad and AEL Athens.

Source: REUTERS
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