Bundesliga Leaders Dortmund Held To Frustrating Goalless Draw By Union Berlin
Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund were frustrated by a resolute Union Berlin side in a scrappy goalless draw, extending their unbeaten league run but making it three games without a win across all competitions.
Borussia Dortmund's winless run continues after Union Berlin draw. Dortmund fire blank at Union Berlin despite dominating possession...
Despite staying unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season (W4, D2), Borussia Dortmund are now winless in three matches across all competitions (D2, L1) after being held to a goalless draw by struggling Union Berlin.
Hoping for a second straight clean sheet after recording their first league win of the season, Union fans would have been relatively pleased with the opening half-hour against high-flying Dortmund.
Entertainment was at a premium, but the hosts were largely untroubled as clear-cut chances proved elusive for both sides. In fact, opportunities were few and far between during a slow start, with BVB seeing plenty of the ball but failing to hit the target.
Nine of Union's last 10 games had seen over 3.5 goals, but it was cards that were flying in the first half, with a scrappy spell producing five yellow cards inside 35 minutes. With half-time approaching and few signs of life in the contest, Kastriot Imeri's whipped set-piece delivery almost went all the way in, forcing a reaction save from Gregor Kobel in an otherwise forgettable opening period.
Despite sitting top of the league in the live table, Dortmund have scored just three goals before the break, with five of their goals coming in the final 15 minutes.
That will have given the travelling support some optimism as the second half got underway, and 11 minutes after the restart, they finally created something of note as Maximilian Beier's first-time effort from Julian Ryerson's deep cross fizzed into the advertising hoardings. At the other end, it looked as though Tim Skarke would punish Dortmund for their lack of cutting edge, but he failed to hit the target while under pressure after racing through on goal.
A lengthy stoppage further stalled any fledgling momentum as Konstantinos Karetsas was forced off injured. Substitute Fabio Silva manufactured a late chance when he fizzed a low ball across the face of goal, shortly before teenager Mathis Albert headed wide at the back post, but there was ultimately no way through for BVB.
All five Bundesliga points this season have come at home for Union, who will be reasonably satisfied with a goalless draw having conceded 17 goals in their opening four league matches. Nonetheless, they remain in the relegation play-off spot at this early stage of the campaign, while Dortmund go top, at least for the time being.
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