Klopp: ´Poor´ efforts ended streak

22 September 2012 21:13

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp was disappointed his side's unbeaten streak ended at 31 matches on Saturday in Bundesliga.

Dortmund were undone 3-2 by Hamburg, the side that holds the record for the longest undefeated run.

Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler denying Dortmund's efforts to get something from the game late, after the home side took the lead very early on only to be pegged back by a wonderful Ivan Perisic chip.

Hamburg then raced into a 3-1 lead after the break and though Dortmund managed to grab a second goal, the German champions failed to take any points from the game.

"Not much pleased me today. The problem was with the way we came into the game. The opening exchanges were really poor," Klopp told reporters.

Central defender Mats Hummels echoed his boss' disappointment, saying they should have scored more goals.

"We gave away goals through our mistakes, and should have scored seven or eight," he said.

Dortmund will travel to Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday for their next Bundesliga match.

Bundesliga wrap: Hamburg end Dortmund run, Bayern still top

22 September 2012 17:56

Borussia Dortmund's unbeaten start to the season came to a surprise end at Hamburg as Bayern Munich maintained their 100 percent record.

Hamburg secured their first win of the season, ending the defending champions' 31-game undefeated run in the Bundesliga with a 3-2 victory.

The hosts stormed into an early lead as Son Heung-Min headed home inside of two minutes and the second half was just as explosive.

Dortmund's Ivan Perisic equalised seconds after half-time but Hamburg moved back ahead with an Ivo Ilicevic strike and a stunning solo goal from Son.

Perisic immediately halved the deficit for Juergen Klopp's men but they were unable to equalise again and fell to defeat, their first since falling to a 2-1 loss at Hannover on September 18 last year.

By winning, Hamburg prevented Dortmund from breaking their 36-game undefeated streak in the league, lifting themselves out of the relegation zone in the process.

Bayern's perfect start to the season continued with a comfortable 2-0 win over Schalke at the Veltins Arena on Saturday.

Despite an entertaining opening half, neither side were able to get their names on the scoresheet as both defences held firm. However, that all changed after the break as a three-minute salvo from Bayern saw them storm into a two-goal lead.

Thomas Mueller set up the opener for Toni Kroos in the 55th minute after a beautiful combination, before getting on the scoresheet himself moments later thanks to a clever run from the flanks.

There was nothing left for Schalke after that, as Bayern claimed their fourth win out of four in the new campaign and maintained their position atop of the table alongside Eintracht Frankfurt.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Mainz collected their first three points of the season with a 2-0 victory over struggling Augsburg.

Ivica Olic netted a 42nd-minute equaliser as Wolfsburg earned a 1-1 draw against promoted Greuther Fuerth, while Fortuna Dusseldorf remains undefeated after they played out a goalless draw at home to Freiburg.

Dortmund fans to boycott Hamburg trip

22 September 2012 13:51

Borussia Dortmund will be without 1,000 fans for their game at Hamburg, as they prepare to stage a boycott against high ticket prices.

The cheapest available tickets for away supporters are 19 Euros, whereas HSV charge 14 Euros for matches against 'lesser' teams, and fans of the Bundesliga champions are unhappy with the price discrimination.

Therefore, a considerable section of 7,000 travelling BVB fans will leave the stadium immediately after the first whistle to express their dismay - a course of action that coach Jurgen Klopp believes benefits no-one.

"It would be a strong action from the fans. However, there are no winners in this scenario," he told reporters.

Tickets for visiting fans at Dortmund start at 15 Euros and 30 cents, regardless of the opponents.

Van der Vaart keen for Dortmund test

22 September 2012 08:17

Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is keen for a crack at German champions Borussia Dortmund at the Imtech Arena in their next fixture.

Hamburg are yet to register a win so far this term, most recently losing 3-2 after going down to 10 men at Eintracht Frankfurt.

But Van der Vaart, Hamburg's deadline day signing from Tottenham Hotspur, is hoping the clash with Dortmund on Saturday will provide his team with the perfect opportunity to turn their season around.

"Hopefully we will fire here at (our home) stadium. Borussia Dortmund are a very good team, but we can beat them and need not be afraid," the 29-year-old told Sport1.

"When we play pressing (football) at home, the opponents hurt too. We need to do it together, and the lads do that very well.

"They have shown that they want to fight and be able to fight and that they can play good football."