🇩🇪 Borussia Dortmund miss chance to go top after collapse against Köln | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund faced FC Köln on Saturday and walked away empty-handed after a stunning comeback saw the hosts win 3-2.

Scorers: Kainz 53′, Tigges 56′, Ljubičić 71′; Brandt 31′, Schmitz 78′ (OG)

Hoping to keep pace with league leaders Union Berlin, Borussia Dortmund could not afford to slip up in their match against FC Köln.

A plethora of injuries including the absence of Marco Reus and Giovanni Reyna amongst others plus Mats Hummel unavailable due to sickness put the visitors in a tricky situation though things were initially bright.

Köln were on their heels throughout the first half allowing the side in black and yellow to maintain possession and register eight attempts for the opener with three on target.

Eventually, enough pressure from Dortmund broke the deadlock as some slick combination work between match day captain Jude Bellingham and Julian Brandt put them up 1-0 by the break.

However, whatever talk the hosts had at half-time clearly inspired Köln and it was then Dortmund’s turn to sit back which set them up to collapse.

Their lagging pace could not handle the now extra-alert hosts and two goals in three minutes from Florian Kainz and former BVB attacker Steffen Tigges turned things 2-1.

Over time Köln’s momentum continued to flourish while Bellingham, Thorgan Hazard and Youssoufa Moukoko struggled to inspire a comeback. The hosts then added a third through Dejan Ljubičić’s curling effort.

With roughly 10 minutes to go the visitors were handed a lifeline as substitute Tom Rothe’s cross deflected in for 3-2 after only one minute on the pitch. Then in the dying moments, Moukoko’s header flew over the bar.

In the end, the result means Dortmund (fourth) missed the chance to go top of the table with leaders Union Berlin losing to Frankfurt. Köln, meanwhile, are seventh.