BERLIN (AP) — German forward Karim Adeyemi’s first Bundesliga goal of the season helped Borussia Dortmund beat Union Berlin 2-0 and relieve some of the pressure on coach Edin Terzić on Saturday.
“We mustn’t forget that he went through a difficult phase and this is his first game since starting in a long, long time,” Terzić said of Adeyemi’s first start since November due to injuries. his first Bundesliga goal this season. It’s hard to believe when you know their qualities, their potential. But we still hope we can use it as a boost.
A brilliant goal from Adeyemi in the 41st minute and a last-minute goal from Ian Maatsen kept Dortmund in fourth place, one point ahead of Leipzig, who beat Bochum 4-1 away. Only the four most sensible are sure to qualify for the Champions League. There are ten laps left after this weekend.
Terzić is tense due to Dortmund’s inconsistent effects, a constant challenge at Dortmund since their last win in 2012.
The team lost at home to Hoffenheim last weekend and won just one of their last five games in all competitions before the match against Kopenick.
Terzić left out Marco Reus in favour of Adeyemi, while Donyell Malen was suspended for accumulating yellow cards.
Adeyemi scored with a good shot that hit the crossbar. Maatsen picked up the ball in front of Josip Juranović and sealed the win with his first goal for Dortmund.
“We might not have started our most productive game, but, you know, we stick together, we fight for each other, we showed that today and we won here,” Maatsen said. “We need to have that sense of victory. “
Dortmund will then visit Werder Bremen before hosting PSV Eindhoven in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. The groups drew 1-1 in the first leg.
STUTTGART WATCH THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Serhou Guirassy scored twice (he added a penalty) as Stuttgart held on to consolidate third place and boost their chances of qualifying for the Champions League with a 3-2 win at Wolfsburg.
Guirassy took his tally to 20 in 18 league games.
Stuttgart maintained a six-point lead over Dortmund and cut the gap to second-placed Bayern Munich to four points, a remarkable feat for a team suffering from relegation when Sebastian Hoeneß took over as coach last April.
In addition, Eintracht Frankfurt won 2-1 at newly-promoted Heidenheim, Borussia Mönchengladbach drew 1-1 with relegation-threatened Mainz, and Augsburg suffered a 6-0 defeat to last-place Darmstadt, 12 points adrift of safety.
Championship leaders Bayer Leverkusen can move 10 points clear of Bayern with a win in Sunday’s derby against relegation-threatened Cologne.
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