BERLIN (AP) – Borussia Dortmund was held to another Bundesliga draw on Friday as the club dropped star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the second match in a row.
Shinji Kagawa salvaged a 1-1 draw at Hertha Berlin when he capitalized on a rare defensive lapse from the otherwise well-organized home side with 20 minutes remaining.
Hertha frustrated the visitors for long periods and Dortmund clearly missed Aubameyang’s pace to create goalscoring opportunities.
Hertha’s scorer Davie Selke and his teammates celebrate the opening goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
The Gabon player, who was dropped from the squad for Dortmund’s 0-0 draw with Wolfsburg last Sunday, was again omitted for what sporting director Michael Zorc said was a “sporting decision.”
It was the third time in just over a year that Dortmund dropped the player for disciplinary reasons.
Davie Selke fired Hertha into the lead right after the interval. Valentino Lazaro played a one-two with Ondrej Duda and then sent in a low cross for Selke to convert at the far post.
Christian Pulisic forced a good save from Thomas Kraft as Dortmund sought a response, before a Hertha mistake allowed Kagawa to head in the equalizer.
Dortmund pushed hard for a winner but Hertha held on.
Dortmund’s head coach Peter Stoeger attends the warm up for the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Dortmund’s supporters light firework during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Hertha’s Arne Maier, left, and Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa, right, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Dortmund’s Andrey Yarmolenko plays the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Dortmund’s Lukasz Piszczek, right, shouts and gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Dortmund’s Andre Schuerrle, left, and Hertha’s Arne Maier, right, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Hertha’s scorer Davie Selke, left, and his teammates celebrate the opening goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.