Dortmund edge Ingolstadt 1-0 in German Bundesliga

Berlin March 18 (IANS) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the lone goal as Borussia Dortmund overcame relegation-threatened Ingolstadt 1-0 in the 25th round football opener of the German Bundesliga.

Second-bottom team Ingolstadt was resilient against third-placed Dortmund on Friday. Yet the visitors failed to snatch points on the road as they continued to be wasteful in front of the target reports Xinhua news agecny.

The BVB returned to winning ways from an early goal as Bundesliga top striker Aubameyang broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when he tapped in a cross from Marcel Schmelzer to score his 23rd goal of the season.

Ingolstadt reacted with furious attacks but were unable to beat the hosts goalkeeper Roman Buerki who protected the narrow lead by defusing Mathew Leckie s header on target in the 19th minute.

The visitors worked out another opportunity but Alfredo Morales pulled wide from a promising position eight minutes later.

On the other hand Thomas Tuchel s men remained dangerous on fast breaks but neither Christian Pulisic nor Erik Durm were able to finish off counter-attacks around the half-hour mark.

Ingolstadt should have restored parity before the break but for the fact that custodian Buerki was on guard to deny both Almog Cohen and Sonny Kittel from close range.

After the restart Ingolstadt continued to press for the equaliser. However despite a number of chances the Schanzer were unable to overcome Dortmund s defence especially goalie Buerki.

With the result Dortmund move within three points of runners-up Leipzig while Ingolstadt remain on the 17th place which is a direct relegation spot.

On Saturday Werder Bremen host second-placed Leipzig Cologne encounter Hertha Berlin Wolfsburg see last-placed Darmstadt Augsburg face Freiburg Hoffenheim clash with Bayer Leverkusen and Frankfurt take on Hamburg.

--IANS
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