Dortmund woes persist as pressure mounts on Şahin after defeat in Frankfurt

After a shock midweek defeat to Kiel, Borussia Dortmund made the trip to Eintracht Frankfurt keen to make amends. In the end, goals from Hugo Ekitiké and Oscar Hojlund sealed a 2-0 win.

The absence of Omar Marmoush was evident on the team sheet as the Egyptian nears his departure, but Frankfurt were at their brilliant best in the opening half. Die Adler could have capitalised on a misplaced Gregor Kobel pass, however the Swiss shot-stopper got a boot to Hugo Larsson’s shot. 

BVB constructed a fine chance of their own in the 9th-minute as Julian Ryerson crossed centrally for Serhou Guirassy. The Malian rose above Kristensen and flicked his header goalwards but would be denied by the left post. 

Dortmund looked increasingly fragile at the back and it told in the 18th-minute as the hosts surged into a 1-0 lead. Rasmus Kristensen found space on the right to cross for Hugo Ekitiké whose deft finish from close range nestled in the net. 

The width of the upright denied ex-BVB winger Ansgar Knauff minutes later from a curling strike as Kobel stood rooted to the spot. There was a tame penalty appeal from Guirassy before the interval, but arbiter Daniel Schlager saw nothing in the incident. 

Nuri Şahin made a solitary alteration at the break as Yan Couto replaced Ramy Bensebaini. The Brazilian almost restored parity but Kevin Trapp parried with a firm right leg. The visitor’s maintained their purple patch as Jamie Gittens stung Trapp’s palms approaching the hour mark. Perhaps the best opportunity Dortmund created fell to the feet of Guirassy but the striker met clean air – Couto’s superb low cross deserved better. 

The BVB cavalry arrived throughout the remaining 20 minutes as Karim Adeyemi and Gio Reyna entered the fray. Frankfurt sought to shut up shop in response with the introduction of Tuta. 

A controversial moment arrived when ex-Dortmund defender Nnamdi Collins appeared to shoulder into Gittens inside the box but again Daniel Schlager waved protestations away. The result was put beyond doubt in injury time as Oscar Hojlund made it 2-0 on the counterattack.