Julian Brandt (L) of Dortmund vies with Santiago Ascacibar of Herta BSC during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and Hertha BSC in Dortmund, Germany, May 14, 2022. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
BERLIN, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Borussia Dortmund came from behind to beat Hertha Berlin 2-1 in the last round of Bundesliga on Saturday, sending the capital club into the relegation playoffs.
The "BVB" controlled possession from the start but acted too hastily in front of the target. Meanwhile, the visitors sat back and lurked for counterattacks.
Hertha's strategy paid off as Dan-Axel Zagadou fouled Ishak Belfodil inside the penalty area following a fast break. Belfodil converted the subsequent penalty after beating keeper Roman Burki into the bottom left corner on 18 minutes.
Hertha kept all its men behind the ball and tried to defend its narrow lead while the hosts pressed forward in search for the equalizer.
Dortmund had to wait until the 51st minute to create their first clear-cut opportunity through Marco Reus, who couldn't finish the job with only Hertha goalkeeper Marcel Lotka to beat.
The home side eventually restored parity in the 68th minute when Erlin Haaland converted a handball penalty.
Marco Rose's men shocked Hertha in the closing stages as Jude Bellingham's good build-up work allowed youngster Youssoufa Moukoko to beat Lotka with a well-placed shot into the far post corner in the 84th minute.
Hertha pressed frenetically but Sevan Jovetic rattled only the side netting in the closing stages.
With the result, Hertha Berlin's top-flight status is at stake as they face a relegation battle with the third-ranked team from the second division.
Elsewhere, already-crowned Bayern Munich ended the season with three-game winless run, squandering a 2-0 advantage and drawing Wolfsburg 2-2.
Bayer Leverkusen completed the season on the third spot and ended Freiburg's UEFA Champions League's hope following a 2-1 victory.
Borussia Monchengladbach finished the campaign with a six-goal festival as the "Foals" showed no mercy with Hoffenheim after clinching a 5-1 win in front of home crowd. After the match, coach Adi Hutter announced his departure.
Stuttgart avoided the relegation playoffs in the last game of the season thanks to Watrari Endo's last gasp 2-1 winner against Cologne.
Augsburg, whose coach Markus Weinzierl won't extend his expiring contract, edged already relegated Greuther Furth 2-1.
Mainz shared the spoils with Eintracht Frankfurt following a 2-2 stalemate and relegated Arminia Bielefeld reaped a 1-1 with fourth placed Leipzig, who ensured a berth in the UEFA Champions League's playoffs. ■
Julian Brandt (L) of Dortmund vies with Santiago Ascacibar of Herta BSC during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and Hertha BSC in Dortmund, Germany, May 14, 2022. (Photo by Joachim Bywaletz/Xinhua)
Daley Sinkgraven (L) of Leverkusen vies with Roland Sallai of Freiburg during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Leverkusen and Freiburg in Leverkusen, Germany, May 14, 2022. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)
Daley Sinkgraven (R) of Leverkusen vies with Roland Sallai of Freiburg during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Leverkusen and Freiburg in Leverkusen, Germany, May 14, 2022. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)
Exequiel Palacios (1st R) of Leverkusen celebrates scoring with his teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Leverkusen and Freiburg in Leverkusen, Germany, May 14, 2022. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)
Florian Niederlechner (front) of Augsburg vies with Sebastian Griesbeck of Fuerth during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg und Greuther Fuerth in Augsburg, Germany, May 14, 2022. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Florian Niederlechner (R) of Augsburg vies with Tobias Raschl of Fuerth during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg und Greuther Fuerth in Augsburg, Germany, May 14, 2022. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Daniel Caliguiri of Augsburg scores a penalty kick during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg und Greuther Fuerth in Augsburg, Germany, May 14, 2022. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Mads Pedersen (front R) of Augsburg vies with Sebastian Griesbeck (L) of Fuerth during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg und Greuther Fuerth in Augsburg, Germany, May 14, 2022. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
