Haller toasts Dortmund’s title chance after cancer battle
BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller said his side were achieving “something beautiful” ater a 3-0 victory at Augsburg on Sunday sent them within one win of the Bundesliga title.
“It’s just unbelievable. If someone told me I would be in this situation six months ago, I wouldn’t have believed them,” an emotional Haller said.
Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer shortly ater signing with Dortmund and underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and two operations, missing six months before returning in January.
Dortmund sat in sixth place in January, but have lost just one of their 18 matches in the league since Haller returned.0 Dortmund are now two points clear with one match remaining, a rare occurence ater a decade of Bayern Munich dominance.
The final round of games kick off at the same time next Saturday. To lit the Bundesliga shield for the first time since 2011-12, Dortmund will need a victory at home against Mainz only if Bayern win at Cologne. If Bayern draw or lose, Dortmund will be champions even if they lose.
German tabloid Bild rejoiced ater the win, running the headline “Haller-luja, Dortmund close in on the title”.
Even though Dortmund dominated and Augsburg were reduced to 10 men late in the first half, the game was scoreless until the 58th minute, when Haller pounced on an error by a defender to score the opener. He added another from a rebound with the clock winding down, sending the visiting fans into raptures. Julian Brandt struck in injury time to seal the result.
Dortmund, who came into the game knowing victory would put them in control of the title race, but made the trip without injured midfielder Jude Bellingham, were winless on the road since February.
Dortmund controlled the first half but could not find a breakthrough, Haller forcing a fingertip save from Tomas Koubek.
Shortlybeforehalf-timelast-manfelixuduokhai earned a red card, bringing down Donyell Malen on the edge of the penalty box.
Augsburg manager Enrico Maassen said “the red card was the crucial moment... you can give it, but that’s a hard decision.”
Haller finally broke through for the visitors, snapping up a loose ball before spinning and threading the ball into the far corner.
Withjustover5minutesremaining,hallerpounced on a rebound from a Reus shot to put Dortmund 2-0 up, sending the visiting fans into a chant of “German champions, only Dortmund”.