Erling Haaland ended his a four-game scoreless run to help Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 4-1 and cut the distance the Bundesliga’s Champions League qualification spots on Sunday.
Dortmund profited from fourth-place Eintracht Frankfurt’s defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach the day before to move four points behind Frankfurt with five games of the season remaining.
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Erling Haaland ended his a four-game scoreless run to help Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 4-1 and cut the distance the Bundesliga’s Champions League qualification spots on Sunday.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzić made two changes from the team that lost 2-1 to City on Wednesday, bringing in Gio Reyna and Julian Brandt for Emre Can and Ansgar Knauff, who dropped to the bench.
But Reyna equalized with a thunderous shot inside the top right corner from just outside the penalty area in the 29th, shortly before Bremen’s Kevin Möhwald conceded a penalty for a foul on Marco Reus.
The Norwegian might have had a hat trick but Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka got his fingertips to his shot early in the second half, and he had a late goal ruled out for offside.
Sunday’s other Bundesliga game between Mainz and Hertha Berlin was called off due to a COVID-19 outbreak at Hertha.
Dortmund striker Erling Haaland scores penalty during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (Friedemann VogelPool via AP)
Bremen striker Milot Rashica, right, scores the opening goal against Dortmund keeper Marwin Hitz during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (Friedemann VogelPool via AP)
Dortmund, which was knocked out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals by Manchester City on Wednesday, also has a German Cup semifinal against second-division Holstein Kiel on May 1.
Dortmund striker Erling Haaland celebrates with his team after scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (Friedemann VogelPool via AP)
Dortmund coach Edin Terzić made two changes from the team that lost 2-1 to City on Wednesday, bringing in Gio Reyna and Julian Brandt for Emre Can and Ansgar Knauff, who dropped to the bench.
Counterpart Florian Kohfeldt made a host of changes to the team that lost 4-1 at home to Leipzig last weekend.
One of them, Milot Rashica opened the scoring in the 14th minute, when Maximilian Eggestein played him through with a brilliant pass from midfield. Mats Hummels was unable to stop the speeding Rashica, who fired low inside the far post.
Dortmund's striker Erling Haaland (top), Dortmund's midfielder Jude Bellingham (centre, bottom) and Bremen's defender Christian Gross challenge for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (Guido KirchnerPool via AP)
But Reyna equalized with a thunderous shot inside the top right corner from just outside the penalty area in the 29th, shortly before Bremen’s Kevin Möhwald conceded a penalty for a foul on Marco Reus.
Haaland duly scored from the spot in the 24th. It was his first goal in April, ending his uncharacteristic barren run.
Haaland will hardly get an easier finish for his second goal four minutes later, when Bremen’s defense failed to deal with a Reyna cross and left the tall forward completely free at the far post to tap in.
Dortmund Erling Haaland celebrates with Giovanni Reyna after scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (Guido KirchnerPool via AP)
The Norwegian might have had a hat trick but Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka got his fingertips to his shot early in the second half, and he had a late goal ruled out for offside.
Theodor Gebre Selassie was unable to stop Hummels’ header from a corner crossing the line in the 87th.
Eggestein’s effort off the post was closest the visitors got in the second half.
Dortmund's coach Edin Terzic shows thumb up prior the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (Friedemann VogelPool via AP)
Sunday’s other Bundesliga game between Mainz and Hertha Berlin was called off due to a COVID-19 outbreak at Hertha.
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Bremen's Leonardo Bittencourt, left, and Dortmund's midfielder Jude Bellingham, right, challenge for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (Guido KirchnerPool via AP)
Dortmund striker Erling Haaland scores penalty during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (Friedemann VogelPool via AP)
Bremen striker Milot Rashica, right, scores the opening goal against Dortmund keeper Marwin Hitz during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 18, 2021. (Friedemann VogelPool via AP)