Dortmund overpower Mainz 3-1

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Erling Haaland (4th R) of Dortmund shoots a penalty during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and FSV Mainz 05 in Dortmund, Germany, Oct. 16, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

Borussia Dortmund inflicted Mainz its third straight defeat after Erling Haaland's brace paved the way for all three points on home soil in the eighth round of the Bundesliga on Saturday.

The "BVB" caught the best possible start in front of home crowd and broke the deadlock with just three minutes played after Marco Reus collected a clearance before drilling the ball from 15 meters into the top right corner.

Dortmund controlled possession and let the ball do the work but for all that the spectators had to wait until the 22nd minute to see a note-worthy effort from Thomas Meunier, who missed the target just wide after the good build-up work from Haaland.

The hosts remained on the front foot but had to take their narrow lead into the half time as neither Donyell Malen nor Jude Bellingham could beat Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner despite promising opportunities.

After the restart, Dortmund quickly established a two-goal lead after Mainz' Silvan Widmer handled the ball inside the box, giving Haaland the chance to step up and convert the subsequent penalty with 54 minutes gone.

Mainz sparked to life and had a big chance to reduce the arrears but Karim Onisiwo chipped the ball over onrushing Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel to waste a presentable chance.

Dortmund almost tripled its lead at the other end of the pitch but Mats Hummels' header hit the woodwork at the hour mark.

Mainz eventually pulled one back in the 87th minute when Jonathan Burkardt benefitted on a moment of madness from Dortmund's defence before tapping the ball past Kobel.

The hosts remained unimpressed and had the last laugh as Bellingham's initiated turnover allowed Haaland to seal his brace and the win on home soil 3-1 in the dying seconds of the game.

With the result, Dortmund climb atop the Bundesliga standings for the moment whereas Mainz slip to the 11th place.

"I am very happy with the three points. Sometimes we were a bit nervous with the ball but we actually had everything under control. Mainz became more active in the second half. In the closing period we make it difficult for ourselves again. That is unnecessary and we have to discuss this," Dortmund head coach Marco Rose said.

Elsewhere, second-half goals from Union Berlin's Taiwo Awoniyi and Sheraldo Becker extended Wolfsburg's winless run to overall six consecutive games.

After two straight losses, Hertha Berlin was able to return to winning ways as the goals from Marco Richter and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp edged Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1.

Freiburg shared the spoils with Leipzig following a 1-1 draw and Anthony Losilla's sole goal secured Bochum a vital 1-0 win over Greuther Furth in the bottom clash. 

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