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Crisis continues: Borussia Dortmund slump to 10th defeat of Bundesliga

Associated Press Saturday, 20 December 2014, 19:11 Last update: about 10 years ago

Borussia Dortmund's miserable Bundesliga season was extended by a 2-1 loss at last-place Werder Bremen on Saturday, the 2011 and 2012 champions' 10th defeat.

Davie Selke scored one goal and set up another for Bremen to climb off the bottom and leave Dortmund provisionally second-to-last after 17 games.

Freiburg, the new bottom side, plays on Sunday — the last day of play before the Bundesliga's six-week winter break. Whatever happens Sunday, Dortmund will occupy a direct relegation place at the season's midway stage for the first time.

"I wouldn't write us off. We made too many mistakes and now we're there like idiots in the relegation zone. But we're not as bad as that. We have time now to recharge the batteries. We'll correct what we've messed up," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp told Sky television.

After being wished a happy Christmas and a better New Year, Klopp replied "Thank you, it couldn't get much worse."

The 19-year-old Selke opened the scoring with a fine finish in the third minute and easily eluded Mats Hummels before crossing for Fin Bartels to make it 2-0 in the 62nd.

Hummels atoned, somewhat, with a flying header to Ilkay Gundogan's corner in the 69th.

"It was phenomenal," Selke said of his side's win.

Elsewhere, Augsburg surprised Borussia Moenchengladbach with a 2-1 win, Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 with Eintracht Frankfurt, while Schalke vs. Hamburger SV and Stuttgart vs. Paderborn finished scoreless.

Dortmund got off to a terrible start when Selke finished in style after Santiago Garcia played him through.

The visitors were poor in the first half, appearing unsettled by Bremen's well-organized defense and quick breaks. Dortmund had to wait 30 minutes for the side's first effort on goal, and really only threatened through Oliver Kirch just before the break.

Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp introduced Shinji Kagawa for the second half, but the Japan midfielder was unable to change the game.

After setting up Bartels for Bremen's second, Selke should have made it 3-0 before Hummels pulled one back.

Kagawa missed a good chance to equalize in the 79th, while Bartels struck the post and Clemens Fritz fired over at the other end in a frenetic finale.

"We're all been thinking about it: 'What's the problem? Where's the issue?' We were better at home in the last weeks, but away, not at all," Hummels said.

In Augsburg, Max Kruse put Moenchengladbach ahead with a penalty in the second minute, only for Markus Feulner to equalize in off the post in the 20th.

A mistake from 'Gladbach defender Tony Jantschke allowed Alexander Esswein cross for Raul Bobadilla claim the winner against his ex-club in the 51st.

In Leverkusen, Alexander Meier brought his league-leading tally to 13 with a penalty in the 37th to give Frankfurt a deserved halftime lead.

However, Karim Bellarabi salvaged a point for his side by scoring in the 83rd to move Leverkusen above 'Gladbach into third.

Second-place Wolfsburg was hosting Cologne later.

Bayern Munich had Arjen Robben to thank for a late winner against Mainz on Friday. The 2-1 win gave the defending champions a provisional 14-point lead over Wolfsburg.

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