Union Berlin went top of the Bundesliga with a fourth straight win on Saturday as Jordan Pefok scored an 84th-minute goal to beat Mainz 2-1 at home. Union leads Bayern Munich, who play VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday, with 39 points from 19 games. After beating Freiburg 5-1, third-placed Borussia Dortmund has 37 points. Union, undefeated at home this season, has two more league wins than Bayern.
Union Berlin went top of Bundesliga with fourth straight win
Jérôme Roussillon and Rani Khedira came close for the hosts before Kevin Behrens scored after 32 minutes. Mainz had limited chances, but a VAR review gave them a 78th-minute penalty for handball, which replacement Marcus Ingvartsen equalised from. After Mainz failed to clear a cross, Union’s amazing campaign continued with Jordan’s close-range winner six minutes later. Borussia Dortmund defeated 10-man Freiburg with Sébastien Haller scoring for the first game following cancer treatment, delighting the home fans.
In the 17th minute, Kiliann Sildillia was booked twice in three minutes, leaving the visitors with 10 men. Dortmund capitalised on their early lead when former Freiburg defender Nico Schlotterbeck scored from a tight angle in the 26th. Dortmund had Freiburg on the back foot, but Lucas Höler scored a late first-half goal when the hosts failed to clear a loose ball. Dortmund struck twice in three minutes after the break to restore order. Dortmund took the lead again when Jude Bellingham backheeled to Karim Adeyemi, who beat Mark Flekken.
Haller, back this year after enduring surgeries and treatment for testicular cancer diagnosed only weeks after signing for the club last July, scored his first competitive goal in the 51st minute by heading in a cross. Dortmund captain Marco Reus should have scored when he was unmarked at the far post, but he hit the crossbar. After Freiburg coach Christian Streich was sent out for dissent, Julian Brandt’s long-range shot hit the post and Gio Reyna finished Freiburg’s devastation in the 82nd minute.
