Dortmund falls to Stuttgart in Kovac’s debut

Borussia Dortmund fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Stuttgart in Niko Kovac’s first game as new head coach.

An own-goal from Waldemar Anton and Jeff Chabot’s far-post header ruined Kovac’s debut, a week after the dismissal of Nuri Sahin.

Dortmund dominated play in second-half but Stuttgart took the lead in the 50th minute, thanks to a familiar face. Anton, who left Stuttgart for Dortmund last year, turned a cutback into his own goal.

Jeff Chabot then made it 2-0 few minutes later as he bullet an header into the far post.

The Yellow side then cut the deficit with Julian Brandt’s low drive from a tight angle in the 81st minute.

However, they were unable to find an equaliser and were later reduced to 10-man when Julian Ryerson was sent off for two bookable offences a minute from time.

Borussia Dortmund are slipping further away from the Bundesliga’s top four. They sit 11th in the table with 29 points, now six behind fourth-placed Stuttgart.