Borussia Dortmund 5-1 Freiburg: Sebastien Haller among the goals after return from cancer battle
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Updated 04/02/2023 at 17:00 GMT
Borussia Dortmund kept up their recent winning run in the Bundesliga and shot up to third place in the table after an emphatic 5-1 trashing of fellow hopefuls Freiburg. Among the goalscorers was Sebastian Haller who netted for the first time since his return to action following treatment for testicular cancer.
Dortmund's French forward Sebastien Haller (R) celebrates scoring the 3-1 goal with teammate Dortmund's English midfielder Jude Bellingham during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund v SC Freiburg in Dortmund
Image credit: Getty Images
Sébastien Haller scored his first goal since his recovery from testicular cancer as Borussia Dortmund continued their 100 per cent winning run in 2023 after beating 10-man Freiburg 5-1 at home.
The turning point came in the 17th minute when Kiliann Sildillia was sent off after picking up two yellows less than 90 seconds apart.
BVB dominated with their man advantage and took the lead through former Freiburg player Nico Schlotterbeck who netted from a tight angle following a corner for his fourth of the season.
The visitors defended well initially and completely against the run of play equalised on the stroke of half-time from Lucas Höler's shot after Dortmund failed to clear the ball.
Edin Terdic's side responded well after the break and scored twice in the space of three minutes. Karim Adeyemi latched onto Jude Bellingham's deft backheel to score after a short corner.
From another corner, Haller netted with a header from Raphaël Guerreiro's cross, just two weeks after returning to action.
Julien Brandt scored the pick of the goals with a swerving effort from distance from Guerreiro's pass. And it was Guerreiro the provider again in the closing stages for substitute Gio Reyna to score the fifth.
The result, Dortmund's fourth win in a row, sees them go third in the Bundesliga table while Freiburg are in sixth place.
TALKING POINT
The potential for best title race in years.
With Bayern Munich dropping points in January, there are five teams potentially in contention for a title challenge.
And Dortmund will fancy their chances after reeling off four wins in a row since the Bundesliga resumed and the depth of their bench which they showcased today. They are two points behind leaders Union Berlin and have some winnable league fixtures coming up in February.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Sébastien Haller (Dortmund): The former West Ham striker played the lone strike role brilliantly using his power. And what a story, scoring his first goal for the club since his return to action earlier this month and on World Cancer Day.
PLAYER RATINGS
DORTMUND: Kobel 6, Wolf 7, Süle 7, Schlotterbeck 7, Guerreiro 8, Can 6, Bellingham 6, Brandt 6, Reus 7, Adeyemi 8, Haller 9 Subs: Moukoko 6, Bynoe-Gittens 6, Reyna n/a, Malen n/a.
FREIBURG: Flekken 6, Kübler 5, Ginter 5, Lienhart 5, Sildillia n/a, Eggestein, Höfler, Günter (c), Kyereh, Doan, Höler, Grifo...Subs: Eggestein 5, Sallai 5, Jeong n/a, Gregoritsch n/a, Gulde n/a.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
17' - RED CARD! Sildillia is shown his second yellow in two minutes for a bad foul!
26' - GOAL FOR DORTMUND! A minute after Sule's shot was saved. From the resulting corner, Schlotterbeck nets from a tight angle.
48' - GOAL FOR DORTMUND! From a short corner, Adeyemi finishes from inside the box from Bellingham's backheel.
51' - GOAL FOR DORTMUND! From another corner. Guerreiro's cross is headed in by Haller.
69' - GOAL FOR DORTMUND! Lovely strike from Brandt into the corner from outside the box from Guerreiro's pass.
82' - GOAL FOR DORTMUND! Reyna scores 10 minutes after coming on with a low shot from another Guerreiro pass.
KEY STAT
Freiburg last won in Dortmund in October 2001, almost two years before Jude Bellingham was born.
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