Dortmund crisis deepens after 2-0 loss to Frankfurt

FRANKFURT: Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 2-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday for their third straight Bundesliga defeat that deepened the crisis at the Ruhr Valley club.

The result piles more pressure on already-embattled Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin, who still enjoyed the backing of club bosses after their midweek defeat by struggling Holstein Kiel.

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The visitors did have the first chance in the game but Serhou Guirassy’s ninth minute header bounced off the post.

They were then caught completely off guard nine minutes later when Eintracht broke clear and Hugo Ekitike, who launched the move, slotted in to complete it.

Eintracht, who were without top striker Omar Marmoush, came close to a second goal four minutes later but Ansgar Knauff’s curled effort bounced off the post.

The club had said before the game that transfer talks were ongoing with an unnamed club for Egyptian forward Marmoush’s transfer.

Manchester City are reportedly close to signing the striker, who walked onto the pitch after the end of the game to congratulate his Eintracht teammates in what was likely his last appearance in front of the home fans.

Dortmund, who travel to Bologna for the Champions League on Tuesday, could not find a way back into the game despite pressing for an equaliser, with Serhou Guirassy twice calling for a penalty after going down in the box but instead earning a booking.

It was Eintracht who struck again when Oscar Hojlund found far too much space to charge into the box and seal Dortmund’s third defeat in three league matches this year.

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Eintracht’s third win in a row tightened their hold on third spot in the standings with 36 points, two behind champions Bayer Leverkusen in second place, who take on Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. Dortmund are a distant 10th on 25.