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Dortmund squander two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Leipzig

Dortmund squander two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Leipzig

By Reuters

Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt in action with RB Leipzig's Lukas Klostermann during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, at Signal Iduna Park, in Dortmund, Germany, at December 17, 2019. Photo: Reuters

  • Werner scores twice for Leipzig
  • Dortmund twice give up lead
  • Leipzig stay top
BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund squandered a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig on Tuesday as a series of errors caused the Ruhr valley club to lose their grip on the game. Dortmund, who led 2-0 and 3-2, had only themselves to blame as they failed to close the gap to the top, staying four points behind Leipzig in third place. Dortmund, having won their previous three league games, looked to be cruising to victory when Julian Weigl fired in to give them the lead in the 23rd minute. Julian Brandt then added a second after a stunning 180-degree turn in the box in the 34th, as the visitors were completely outclassed in the first half. Leipzig twice went close in first-half stoppage time, forcing two consecutive fine saves from Dortmund's Roman Buerki. Yet the Swiss keeper was beaten two minutes after the restart when he tried to head the ball away outside his box, but failed to get enough distance on his clearance and instead allowed Timo Werner to sneak in and score. Werner then added a second in the 53rd, after a mistake from Brandt, to take his league goal tally to 18, joining Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski as top scorer, but Jadon Sancho put the hosts back in front two minutes later. Dortmund looked to be back in control until Patrik Schick was left unmarked to stab in the equaliser on the rebound in the 78th. 'We did not do it well in the second half,' said Dortmund captain Marco Reus. 'All three goals could have been avoided. 'It was a good game from both but a point from this game is far too little for us.' Leipzig stay top on 34 points, with second-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach, who host bottom club Paderborn on Wednesday, on 31. Dortmund are third on 30 while champions Bayern Munich are in fifth on 27 and travel to Freiburg on Wednesday.