Second-half goals by Raffael and Peter Niemeyer were the difference as Hertha BSC shocked the world with a 2-1 victory over Bundesliga champion Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in a raucous Signal Iduna Park. The hosts' 18-match home unbeaten streak ended.
Billed as the "Battle of Champions," with Dortmund winning BL1 and Hertha winning BL2 in a landslide, the visitors employed their counter-attacking style to perfection, thwarting the Yellow-Blacks - playing without suspended Mario Gotze - at every turn.
After a first-half stalemate, Raffael burst in on goal past Mats Hummels and several other Dortmund defenders. He was stopped by Roman Weidenfeller, who blocked it off teammate Marcel Schmelzer right into the path of Raffael - who said, 'Thank you very much' and put it into the empty net.
Raffael would hit the woodwork two more times before Hertha made it 2-0 in the 82nd. BSC captain Andre Mijatovic's header off a corner kick was saved by Weidenfeller right into the knee of Niemeyer, who didn't know what hit him (the ball) and it went right into the net.
A late Dortmund goal created a nervy finish, but Hertha saw out the clock and set up next weekend's home clash with fellow promoted side Augsburg.
Said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp: "Hertha are deserving winners."
Klopp is 100 percent right. Congratulations to Hertha for the victory and for a tremendous showing by the visiting supporters.
Dortmund may find things easier in their next home game against Arsenal on Tuesday night.
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