Holstein Kiel 4-2 Borussia Dortmund: Hosts pile pressure on Sahin after shock win

Bundesliga strugglers Holstein Kiel caused a shock on Tuesday as they beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2 at home to earn only their third league victory of the season.

The result was Dortmund’s second straight defeat in the Bundesliga, which left them eighth in the table. The hosts, meanwhile, remain second-bottom but are just three points from guaranteed safety.

The match itself started badly for Nuri Sahin’s visitors, who went in 3-0 down at half-time after being blown away by Holstein Kiel in the first period.

Shuto Machino got them up and running in the 27th minute, before Phil Harres doubled their lead from close range five minutes later – his fifth goal in the last three matches.

Harres then turned provider at the end of the first half, executing a delightful chipped ball for Alexander Bernhardsson, who smashed the ball home to give the home side a huge lead going in stoppage time.

Dortmund did eventually mount a fightback of sorts, with Gio Reyna’s 71st minute finish from the edge of the area cutting the deficit. Jamie Gittens then made it 3-2 with a fine finish seven minutes later.

Sahin’s side were then given a lifeline in their hunt for a point when Lewis Holtby received a straight red card for a bad challenge in second-half stoppage time, but it was the home side who scored again.

Fiete Arp got the goal that made it 4-2 and sealed the points for Holstein Kiel.

Final in Kiel. pic.twitter.com/uOwOGeCLHK

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) January 14, 2025

Data debrief: Dortmund disaster piles pressure on Sahin

Holstein Kiel’s victory on Tuesday was their first ever against Dortmund and one that they managed despite having just 25% of the ball.

Despite having the majority of the ball, Dortmund were unable to fashion many decent opportunities, registering an xG of just 1.06 compared to Holstein Kiel’s 1.56.

Following the result, Dortmund have now won just one of their last seven matches in all competitions.