Dortmund Defeat to Hoffenheim Hands Bayern Bundesliga Title Chance
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| Kramaric’s late penalty sinks Dortmund |
Two Kramaric penalties earn Hoffenheim a dramatic 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund. The result boosts their top-four bid and gives Bayern a title shot tomorrow.
Kramaric spot-on twice as Hoffenheim stun Dortmund to stay in Europe chase...
Two Andrej Kramaric penalties, the second arriving in the 98th minute, earned Hoffenheim a potentially vital 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund. The result ended a five-game winless run in the Bundesliga and revived their hopes of UEFA Champions League qualification.
A frantic opening set the tone for a back-and-forth first half, and the hosts nearly made a dream start after five minutes. A deep cross found Tim Lemperle on the volley, and he was unlucky to watch his effort crash off the underside of the bar with Gregor Kobel beaten.
Despite several promising openings in the first half, the visitors struggled to carve out clear-cut chances. Their best moment came when Daniel Svensson’s header floated just over the bar.
With the game looking set for a goalless first half, Hoffenheim won a penalty just before the break following a bizarre incident involving Niklas Sule.
The Dortmund defender appeared to block a shot while falling, but as he received treatment, a VAR review showed he had handled the ball and a spot-kick was given.
Despite the long delay before taking the penalty, Kramaric stayed composed and slotted the ball past Kobel’s outstretched dive to give the hosts a halftime lead.
As the second half wore on, the visitors began to push Hoffenheim deeper into their own half, but clear chances were still rare. That prompted Niko Kovac to turn to top scorer Serhou Guirassy despite pre-match injury doubts.
Even after the attacking changes, the anticipated Dortmund pressure never arrived, with the home side defending resolutely and managing the game smartly.
Just when the points looked safe, though, Guirassy conjured a moment out of nothing, turning and rifling a precise strike past Oliver Baumann from the edge of the box.
The drama wasn’t over, however. A VAR check ruled that Julian Ryerson had handled inside the area, handing the hosts a chance to snatch victory from the spot.
A HUGE IMPORTANT 3⃣ POINTS!!! pic.twitter.com/7p0nlk0VAI
— TSG Hoffenheim US (@tsghoffenheimEN) April 18, 2026
The ever-reliable Kramaric kept his nerve and sent the penalty into the same corner deep in stoppage time to seal the win.
A first home victory over Dortmund since December 2019 (L5) lifts Die Kraichgauer to within two points of the top four, having played one game more than the two teams above them. Meanwhile, Dortmund’s defeat gives Bayern Munich the chance to clinch the Bundesliga tomorrow.
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