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Brandt nets 2 as substitute, Dortmund beats Stuttgart 2-0

Julian Brandt came on as an early substitute and scored twice in Borussia Dortmund's 2-0 win at Stuttgart, reducing Bayern Munich’s lead at the top of the Bundesliga to six points on Friday.

Brandt was called on by coach Marco Rose to replace Giovanni Reyna in the sixth minute after the American injured his right ankle shortly after kickoff while disputing a ball with Borna Sosa.

Brandt scored his first goal in the 12th minute when he was set up by Erling Haaland, who generously squared the ball for his teammate after he was played clear by Jude Bellingham.

Stuttgart's Omar Marmoush, left, is challenged by Dortmund's Erling Haaland and Mahmoud Dahoud, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, Friday, April 8, 2022. (Tom Wellerdpa via AP)

The Germany midfielder got his second goal in the 71st when he was given space outside the area to fire a bending strike that dipped under the arm of Stuttgart goalkeeper Florian Muller.

Sosa hit the crossbar for relegation-threatened Stuttgart with a lob from a tight angle in the final minutes.

Haaland, who has 16 league goals this season, was unable to find the net for a fifth straight league game.

Dortmund's Giovanni Reyna walks off the pitch during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, Friday, April 8, 2022. (Tom Wellerdpa via AP)

Bayern will host Augsburg on Saturday in a Bavarian derby. After that, the defending German champion will focus on overturning a 1-0 loss to Villarreal in the return leg of their Champions League quarterfinal match next week.

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Fans on the famous south tribune celebrate prior the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, April 2, 2022. After more than two years of coronavirus pandemic, Germany's biggest stadium was sold out with allowed 81,365 spectators. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

Dortmund coach Marco Rose walks on the sidelines during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, Friday, April 8, 2022. (Tom Wellerdpa via AP)