Mueez Ajao
– Holders RB Leipzig beat toothless Borussia Dortmund 2-0 to reach the German Cup semi-finals on Wednesday and snap their three-game losing run across all competitions.
– Leipzig, desperate to end their recent losing run, pressed high from the start and carved out chance after chance against a dazed Dortmund team.
– The visitors still looked to be feeling the effects of Saturday’s 4-2 loss to league leaders Bayern Munich, and were unable to stop the waves of early Leipzig attacks or mount any offensive challenge of their own.
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– The hosts’ dominance paid off after 22 minutes when Germany forward Werner, who had earlier gone close, tapped in to give Leipzig a well-deserved lead.
– Dortmund briefly tried to come back in the second half but they were lucky not to concede a second goal when Konrad Laimer broke clear in the 78th but failed to beat keeper Gregor Kobel in a one-on-one.
– Even the introduction of Anthony Modeste, a third Dortmund striker, in the 85th minute did not help Edin Terzic’s team get the equaliser, with Leipzig keeper Janis Blaswich making a superb stoppage-time save.
– Instead it was Leipzig who scored again on the break with Willi Orban sealing their victory.
– Dortmund have now won only one of their last five matches in all competitions, including a Champions League Round of 16 loss to Chelsea, and have dropped to second place in the Bundesliga, two points behind Bayern, with eight games left.
– The Bavarians crashed out of the Cup on Tuesday following a shock 2-1 home loss to Freiburg while Eintracht Frankfurt advanced with a 2-0 victory over Union Berlin.
