Dortmund Snaps Winless Streak in Bundesliga as Union Berlin Stops Losing

Dortmund's English forward #43 Jamie Bynoe-Gittens celebrates scoring the 3-2 goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between BVB Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Dortmund, western Germany on November 25, 2023. (AFP)
Dortmund's English forward #43 Jamie Bynoe-Gittens celebrates scoring the 3-2 goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between BVB Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Dortmund, western Germany on November 25, 2023. (AFP)
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Dortmund Snaps Winless Streak in Bundesliga as Union Berlin Stops Losing

Dortmund's English forward #43 Jamie Bynoe-Gittens celebrates scoring the 3-2 goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between BVB Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Dortmund, western Germany on November 25, 2023. (AFP)
Dortmund's English forward #43 Jamie Bynoe-Gittens celebrates scoring the 3-2 goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between BVB Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Dortmund, western Germany on November 25, 2023. (AFP)

English teenager Jamie Bynoe-Gittens scored one goal and set up another Saturday as Borussia Dortmund fought back to beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-2 and snap a three-game winless run in the Bundesliga.

Dortmund, which drew with Eintracht Frankfurt and then lost to lost Bayern Munich and Stuttgart, was seemingly on its way to a third straight defeat with Gladbach leading 2-0 after 28 minutes.

But Marcel Sabitzer pulled one back two minutes later, Bynoe-Gittens set up Niclas Füllkrug to equalize two minutes after that, and Füllkrug returned the favor for Bynoe-Gittens to score just before the break.

It was his first league goal of the season on his fourth appearance.

The 19-year-old Bynoe-Gittens was only playing as Dortmund made two late changes with forwards Karim Adeyemi and Sébastien Haller dropping out through illness.

Donyell Malen sealed the win on a counterattack in injury time.

UNION RELIEF

Kevin Volland scored for Union Berlin to salvage a 1-1 draw against Augsburg – ending the team’s nine-game losing run in the league in what was its first match since a coaching change.

There were tributes to former coach Urs Fischer and assistant Markus Hoffmann before the game. Successors Marco Grote and Marie-Louise Eta – the first female assistant coach in the 60-year history of the Bundesliga – endured a frustrating match before Volland scored in the 88th minute.

The former Germany forward fired inside the right post after Robin Knoche – who had a penalty saved – headed on a free kick from Josip Juranović.

But it was an uncertain start from Union, harassed by the visitors’ constant pressing. Kevin Behrens went closest for the home team.

Then Robin Gosens was penalized for a challenge on Augsburg’s Arne Engels, though it seemed both were going for the ball. Referee Florian Badstübner stuck to his decision after a VAR check and Ermedin Demirović converted the penalty to a chorus of whistles in the 40th.

Union had the chance to equalize from another penalty awarded after a VAR check, but Augsburg ’keeper Finn Dahmen saved Knoche’s spot kick.

Volland's late goal – his first for Union – came as a relief.

“It’s an important step in the right direction,” Grote said.

LEVERKUSEN KEEPS WINNING

Bayer Leverkusen returned to the top with a 3-0 win at Werder Bremen. Leverkusen leads by two points from 11-time defending champion Bayern Munich after 12 rounds.

Leverkusen had a slice of fortune when Bremen’s Olivier Deman scored an own-goal while attempting a clearance in the ninth, and Jeremie Frimpong grabbed the visitors’ second goal before the break. Álex Grimaldo sealed the win in the 76th.

Leverkusen has won every Bundesliga game this season apart from its 2-2 draw with Bayern in Munich in the fourth round.

REFEREE INJURED

Stuttgart beat Frankfurt 2-1 away in the late game thanks to two goals from Deniz Undav – in the first minute and just before the break.

Referee Felix Brych matched Wolfgang Stark's record for Bundesliga games as he took charge of his 344th, but he was unable to finish it because of a knee injury and had to be replaced at the break.

Many of Frankfurt's ultra fans left their places before kickoff to protest what they say was heavy-handed treatment by police.

Also, Wolfsburg beat Leipzig 2-1 and Freiburg drew with Darmstadt 1-1.



Haaland Scores in 100th Appearance as Man City Beats Chelsea 2-0 in Premier League 

Erling Haaland (L) of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Kevin De Bruyne (R) after scoring the 0-1 lead during the English Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City in London, Britain, 18 August 2024. (EPA)
Erling Haaland (L) of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Kevin De Bruyne (R) after scoring the 0-1 lead during the English Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City in London, Britain, 18 August 2024. (EPA)
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Haaland Scores in 100th Appearance as Man City Beats Chelsea 2-0 in Premier League 

Erling Haaland (L) of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Kevin De Bruyne (R) after scoring the 0-1 lead during the English Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City in London, Britain, 18 August 2024. (EPA)
Erling Haaland (L) of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Kevin De Bruyne (R) after scoring the 0-1 lead during the English Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City in London, Britain, 18 August 2024. (EPA)

Make it 91 goals in 100 games for Erling Haaland at Manchester City.

The striker marked his 100th appearance for the club by netting the first goal in a 2-0 win at Chelsea on Sunday as City began its campaign for a fifth straight Premier League title.

It also took his tally to five goals in three league openers since joining City in 2022 and showed that the Norwegian is fully rested after a summer without international soccer.

“I had a feeling that he feels better than last season at this stage,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “He feels good, and the goal was magnificent.”

Haaland gave his team the lead in the 18th minute and Mateo Kovacic added a strike from just outside the area in the 84th to make it a harsh welcome for new Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca in his first game in charge.

Also Sunday, Brentford beat Crystal Palace 2-1 after benefitting from a disputed refereeing decision in the first half.

At Stamford Bridge, Haaland’s opener came when he received the ball on the edge of the area and cut between Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella before dinking the ball past Robert Sanchez.

“I knew exactly what to do, I think it was a really good goal,” Haaland said.

It was the kind of clinical center-forward play that Chelsea lacked for much of last season and again on Sunday despite another summer of heavy spending.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson had a goal disallowed just before halftime after needlessly straying offside and then hit a close-range volley straight at City goalkeeper Ederson in the 61st before being taken off for 18-year-old newcomer Marc Guiu.

“The performance was there but we didn’t take the chances,” Maresca said. “Probably the big difference was inside the box.”

Still, there were signs of encouragement for Maresca, the former Man City assistant under Pep Guardiola. While none of Chelsea’s nine summer signings started the game, Romeo Lavia made his first league start after missing most of last season with injuries and impressed in a midfield partnership with Moises Caicedo.

Winger Pedro Neto came off the bench in the 59th to make his debut after a big-money move from Wolves and nearly scored right away as he was inches from getting to Enzo Fernandez’s low cross toward the far post.

But Kovacic, who started in place of the injured Rodri, doubled the lead against his former club when he intercepted a high ball up the pitch and strove forward before launching a shot that snuck in via the post.