Haller double guides Dortmund closer to first league title in 11 years
Sebastien Haller scored twice as Borussia Dortmund defeated Augsburg 3-0 on Sunday to seize the lead in the Bundesliga title race heading into the final week of the season.
Haller broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, and six minutes later, he scored his second goal of the day to secure the victory that propelled them above Bayern Munich and into first place.
Julian Brandt secured the victory with a strike in stoppage time.
On 70 points, the Ruhr valley club, which last won the championship in 2012 under then-coach Jurgen Klopp, leads Bayern by two.
On Saturday, the Bavarians were stunned by a 3-1 home loss to RB Leipzig.
In a one-sided first half, Dortmund had 16 shots on goal to Augsburg’s one. Niklas Sule also struck the post for Dortmund, but the visitors were unable to score even after Augsburg’s dismissal of Felix Uduokhai with 38 minutes remaining.
Emre Can also hit the post after the resumption of play, but Haller’s goal off the post eventually broke the deadlock.
Augsburg immediately responded with an opportunity of their own, but Dortmund custodian Gregor Kobel did well to save Irvin Cardona’s 10-meter shot.
Haller, who had missed a significant portion of the season after being diagnosed with testicular cancer the previous year, calmed Dortmund’s anxieties with a tap-in before Brandt sealed their victory.
Dortmund hosts Mainz on the final matchday of the season, while Bayern, who have won the last ten league titles, travels to Cologne.