Europe News

Leaders Dortmund held 4-4 by Stuttgart in Bundesliga thriller

Mar 30, 2012, 20:38 GMT

Dortmund, Germany - Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund were held to a 4-4 draw by fighting VfB Stuttgart in a Friday night thriller which saw six goals in the last 19 minutes.

Christian Gentner salvaged the draw for Stuttgart in injury time after Dortmund had first squandered a 2-0 lead and then turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead.

Dortmund appeared to hold a comfortable advantage from Shinji Kagawa in the 33rd and Jakub Blaszczikowski in the 49th and were in full command against Stuttgart before the already lively game exploded into action.

Vedad Ibisevic (71st) and Julian Schieber's double in the 77th and 79th put Stuttgart ahead, Mats Hummels (80th) and Ivan Pisczeck (85th) moved Dortmund on top again at 4-3 before Gentner had the last laugh two minutes into stoppage time.

The dropped points could prove costly for Dortmund in the title race with Bayern Munich, as Munich have the chance to pull within three on Saturday with a victory at struggling Bavarian rivals Nuremberg.

'We did many things right and many things wrong,' said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp, after all parties found their breath again.

'I have no explanation for the period until the 3-2. You complete the drama by fighting back to 4-3 and then concede such a stupid goal in the end.'

Dortmund are unbeaten in 22 league matches but face Munich in their next home game on April 11, followed by a trip to third-placed arch-rivals Schalke three days later and a meeting with number four Moenchengladbach the following week.

In-form Stuttgart moved to fifth place in their bid for a place in the Europa League.

Read more about Football Germany