BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund slipped deeper into crisis after losing 2-1 at VfB Stuttgart on Friday for their fourth defeat in the last five Bundesliga matches.

The Ruhr valley club, firm title contenders only a few weeks ago with six wins from their first seven league matches, have lost their winning touch and are without a Bundesliga victory since September, piling pressure on coach Peter Bosz.

Dortmund, who take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League next week, are stuck on 20 points in third place.

Stuttgart, who have now won all of their 16 points this season at home, climbed to 11th.

A disastrous back pass from Marc Bartra allowed Chardac Akolo to slip in and put Stuttgart ahead in the fifth minute.

Dortmund were in control and had their chances but with top striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang suspended, they lacked his finish.

“This defeat is very painful. We came here to win and we are very disappointed,” Bosz told reporters.

“It is ridiculous how we concede goals. But after the first goal but we played good football.

“Unfortunately, the second half was not that good but we will not give up. We will keep going.”

Dortmund still managed a late first-half equaliser with Maximilian Philipp scoring on the rebound after Andre Schuerrle’s penalty was saved.

But Josip Brekalo fired in through the legs of keeper Roman Buerki six minutes after the restart to restore their lead with a break that once again took the shaky Dortmund defence by complete surprise.

Stuttgart had several more good chances to add to their tally with Brekalo and Berkay Ozcan as frustrated Dortmund ran out of gas.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2017