Dortmund miss chance to go top with collapse in Cologne

COLOGNE, Germany: Borussia Dortmund missed a golden chance to go top of the Bundesliga, collapsing in the second half to lose 3-2 at Cologne on Saturday. Dortmund led 1-0 at the break and looked set to capitalize on league leaders Union Berlin’s first loss of the year at Eintracht Frankfurt, but conceded two goals in two minutes early in the second half for their third loss of the season. Dortmund led at half-time thanks to a Julian Brandt goal, set up by English teenager Jude Bellingham, who was named captain for the first time due to Mats Hummels’ late withdrawal.

The visitors dominated the opening half and looked in full control of the game, until Florian Kainz equalized in the 53rd minute. Former Dortmund striker Steffen Tigges took advantage of poor defending from a Dortmund corner just two minutes later, climbing above the defense to head home. A suddenly unorganized Dortmund continued to defend poorly, giving midfielder Dejan Ljubicic far too much time in the 71st minute, allowing the midfielder to guide in a long-distance shot to put the game beyond doubt.

Dortmund pulled one goal back through a lucky deflection in the 78th minute, but Cologne held on for a deserved victory. Elsewhere, an early goal from Mario Goetze followed by an individual effort from Jesper Lindstroem guided Frankfurt to a comfortable 2-0 win over Union at home. Frankfurt lost striker Randal Kolo Muani to a second yellow in the 68th minute, but the home side held firm to beat the previously unbeaten Berliners.