Borussia Dortmund’s trip to Bayer 04 Leverkusen will remain a memorable one as the game featured emotion, intense challenges, a nine-minute interruption of the game and a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, which decided the game in Dortmund’s favour.
FC Schalke 04 were held to a 1-1 draw by VfB Stuttgart, thus missing out on the opportunity to jump into fourth place. Younes Belhanda scored Schalke’s opener but Martin Harnik levelled the scores with 15 minutes left to play in the second half. Matchday 22 was concluded with FC Augsburg claiming a 1-0 victory at bottom-placed Hannover 96.
9-minute interruption in Leverkusen
The game between Leverkusen and Dortmund in the BayArena was heavily contested with neither side able to break the deadlock until the 64th minute, when Aubameyang bagged the opener. This prompted severe protests by Leverkusen players and their bench, who felt that a free kick in the build-up had not been taken from the correct spot.
Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt was eventually sent off but refused to leave the dug-out, which led to referee Felix Zwayer calling the game to a halt and ordering the players back into the changing rooms. The game resumed nine minutes later with Schmidt not returning to the pitch.
“Referee acted according to the rules”
“Referee Felix Zwayer acted according to the rules in the situation after Dortmund’s opener. When a player or a coach refuses to leave the interior space of the stadium after he was sent off, an interruption or a threat of cancelling the game is the right measure,” explained Herbert Fandel, chairman of DFB’s referee commission. “It can not be the case that a coach ignores the decision of a referee and expects to provoke a personal explanation with his actions,” continued Fandel.
After the break, Leverkusen returned with a certain amount of anger and put pressure on Dortmund’s defence. Chicharito claimed a handball by Dortmund’s Sokratis inside the area after 71 minutes but Zwayer chose to play on. The closing stages of the game saw Germany international Marco Reus squander a huge chance to decide the game in Dortmund’s favour, as Bernd Leno made a quality save. Chicharito missed the chance for the equaliser at the other end, allowing Dortmund to take all three points from Leverkusen.
Stuttgart claim draw in Gelsenkirchen
61,000 spectators inside the Veltins-Arena saw hosts Schalke get off to a poor start and needed keeper Ralf Fährmann to make a quality save after six minutes against Christian Gentner’s shot to prevent conceding an early goal. The Royal Blues then took the lead after 15 minutes with winter new signings Younes Belhanda and Alessandro Schöpf working together nicely to put Schalke in front.
Stuttgart continued their strong display and kept forcing Fährmann to good saves before the break. Midway through the second half the visitors rewarded themselves with the equaliser, as Harnik converted from short range after Fährmann had failed to clear Alexandru Maxim’s shot.
Koo leads Augsburg to victory
Ja-Cheol Koo’s goal after 14 minutes was enough to separate visitors Augsburg from bottom-side Hannover. Germany international Ron-Robert Zieler prevented a higher defeat early on, as Hannover struggled to generate danger. Hiroshi Kiyotake, returning from a three-month injury break and winter new signing Hugo Almeida were unable to provide the necessary firepower as Augsburg take three points from Hannover.
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Borussia Dortmund’s trip to Bayer 04 Leverkusen will remain a memorable one as the game featured emotion, intense challenges, a nine-minute interruption of the game and a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, which decided the game in Dortmund’s favour.
FC Schalke 04 were held to a 1-1 draw by VfB Stuttgart, thus missing out on the opportunity to jump into fourth place. Younes Belhanda scored Schalke’s opener but Martin Harnik levelled the scores with 15 minutes left to play in the second half. Matchday 22 was concluded with FC Augsburg claiming a 1-0 victory at bottom-placed Hannover 96.
9-minute interruption in Leverkusen
The game between Leverkusen and Dortmund in the BayArena was heavily contested with neither side able to break the deadlock until the 64th minute, when Aubameyang bagged the opener. This prompted severe protests by Leverkusen players and their bench, who felt that a free kick in the build-up had not been taken from the correct spot.
Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt was eventually sent off but refused to leave the dug-out, which led to referee Felix Zwayer calling the game to a halt and ordering the players back into the changing rooms. The game resumed nine minutes later with Schmidt not returning to the pitch.
“Referee acted according to the rules”
“Referee Felix Zwayer acted according to the rules in the situation after Dortmund’s opener. When a player or a coach refuses to leave the interior space of the stadium after he was sent off, an interruption or a threat of cancelling the game is the right measure,” explained Herbert Fandel, chairman of DFB’s referee commission. “It can not be the case that a coach ignores the decision of a referee and expects to provoke a personal explanation with his actions,” continued Fandel.
After the break, Leverkusen returned with a certain amount of anger and put pressure on Dortmund’s defence. Chicharito claimed a handball by Dortmund’s Sokratis inside the area after 71 minutes but Zwayer chose to play on. The closing stages of the game saw Germany international Marco Reus squander a huge chance to decide the game in Dortmund’s favour, as Bernd Leno made a quality save. Chicharito missed the chance for the equaliser at the other end, allowing Dortmund to take all three points from Leverkusen.
Stuttgart claim draw in Gelsenkirchen
61,000 spectators inside the Veltins-Arena saw hosts Schalke get off to a poor start and needed keeper Ralf Fährmann to make a quality save after six minutes against Christian Gentner’s shot to prevent conceding an early goal. The Royal Blues then took the lead after 15 minutes with winter new signings Younes Belhanda and Alessandro Schöpf working together nicely to put Schalke in front.
Stuttgart continued their strong display and kept forcing Fährmann to good saves before the break. Midway through the second half the visitors rewarded themselves with the equaliser, as Harnik converted from short range after Fährmann had failed to clear Alexandru Maxim’s shot.
Koo leads Augsburg to victory
Ja-Cheol Koo’s goal after 14 minutes was enough to separate visitors Augsburg from bottom-side Hannover. Germany international Ron-Robert Zieler prevented a higher defeat early on, as Hannover struggled to generate danger. Hiroshi Kiyotake, returning from a three-month injury break and winter new signing Hugo Almeida were unable to provide the necessary firepower as Augsburg take three points from Hannover.
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