Football
2016/2017 German Bundesliga
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PA Sport 7y

Javier Hernandez scores to help Leverkusen control Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund missed an opportunity to cut the gap to Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga to just a single point as they were beaten 2-0 at Bayer Leverkusen.

Admir Mehmedi and Javier Hernandez supplied the goals in the battle of two of Germany's Champions League participants, who had picked up draws against Monaco and Real Madrid respectively in midweek.

Dortmund had chances, but a combination of some good goalkeeping from Bernd Leno and some poor finishing saw Thomas Tuchel's men leave the BayArena empty-handed.

Leverkusen's win takes them to within two points of their guests and moves them into a pack of clubs in pursuit of the league leaders.

After Hakan Calhanoglu got Roman Burki's pulse racing with a free-kick which just missed the left-hand post, Hernandez gave the Dortmund custodian more work to do with a header.

The Swiss custodian managed to turn the ball behind for a corner, but there was nothing he could do to keep out Mehmedi's header from the resulting Calhanoglu corner, with a slip from Julian Weigl leaving the Swiss forward alone to find the far corner.

Kevin Kampl drove a shot wide of the right-hand post as Leverkusen, despite having less of the possession, continued to create the better chances.

A few wayward efforts were all Dortmund could produce before Hernandez hit the post, although the offside flag had been raised and the goal would not have counted.

The game opened up in the second half with Dortmund forced to take more risks and Leverkusen happy to hit them on the break.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang used his pace to burst through two Leverkusen defenders for Dortmund's first big chance of the game midway through the second half, but Bernd Leno was able to get enough on the Gabon international's shot to turn it away from the gaping goal.

Leverkusen's response was immediate with Calhanoglu's shot giving Burki some work to do at the other end. Another quick break was then finished off by Hernandez, who turned in Calhanoglu's pass from close range to add to the hat-trick he scored a week ago.

Aubameyang was unfortunate not to get a tap-in at the other end before he saw a goal ruled out for offside after he met Ousmane Dembele's low cross to beat Leno.

Kevin Volland could have added a third for Leverkusen too, but enough damage had already been done to earn Leverkusen a second win in a row, extending their unbeaten run to three.

The Mexico international got the better of the matchup against United States midfielder Christian Pulisic ahead of their key World Cup qualifier in November. Pulisic earned the start but was replaced at half-time by Emre Mor.

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