Dortmund stumble at Hertha with Aubameyang left out again
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Hertha BSC vs Borussia Dortmund - Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany - January 19, 2018 Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho in action REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
BERLIN (Reuters) - Third-placed Borussia Dortmund were held 1-1 at Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga on Friday for their second draw in a row without leading striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon international, with 13 league goals this season, was suspended for last week's 0-0 draw with VfL Wolfsburg after failing to show up for a team meeting the day before.
Dortmund coach Peter Stoeger on Thursday indicated the 28-year-old would be in the squad but the forward was surprisingly left out with club officials saying he was not focussed enough.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Hertha BSC vs Borussia Dortmund - Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany - January 19, 2018 Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
Aubameyang, last season's Bundesliga top scorer, has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the January transfer window.
His absence was again clearly evident as Dortmund had few chances in a subdued first half before Davie Selke put Hertha ahead seconds after the restart.
Dortmund levelled by taking advantage of a defensive error when Shinji Kagawa headed in at the far post in the 71st.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Hertha BSC vs Borussia Dortmund - Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany - January 19, 2018 Borussia DortmundÕs Omer Toprak in action with Hertha BerlinÕs Davie Selke REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
The visitors could have snatched a late winner but Sancho curled his shot wide and Alexander Isak fired against the bar.
Dortmund have 30 points and trail Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich who have 44 before they host Werder Bremen on Sunday.
Second-placed Leipzig on 31 visit Freiburg on Saturday.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Hertha BSC vs Borussia Dortmund - Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany - January 19, 2018 Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Hertha BSC vs Borussia Dortmund - Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany - January 19, 2018 Hertha Berlin’s Davie Selke celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Hertha BSC vs Borussia Dortmund - Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany - January 19, 2018 Borussia Dortmund’s Omer Toprak in action with Hertha Berlin’s Davie Selke REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Hertha BSC vs Borussia Dortmund - Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany - January 19, 2018 Hertha BerlinÕs Fabian Lustenberger in action with Borussia DortmundÕs Andre Schurrle REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Hertha BSC vs Borussia Dortmund - Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany - January 19, 2018 Hertha Berlin’s Fabian Lustenberger in action with Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Hertha BSC vs Borussia Dortmund - Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany - January 19, 2018 Hertha Berlin players huddle up before the match REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
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