Freiburg deals demoralising defeat to Dortmund in Bundeslig

Berlin - Felix Passlack’s foul on Nicolas Hofler gave Grifo all the opportunity he needed to open the scoring with a brilliant free kick

Freiburg put the brakes on Borussia Dortmund’s early-season optimism by holding on for a 2-1 win in the Bundesliga on Saturday, a demoralizing blow for a team with ambitions of challenging for the title.

Goals in each half from Vincenzo Grifo and Hungary midfielder Roland Sallai gave host Freiburg its first win and dealt new Dortmund coach Marco Rose his first league defeat after the 5-2 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the opening round last weekend. Dortmund lost in the German Super Cup to Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Dutch forward Donyell Malen made his first start for Dortmund, but it was a bad beginning overall for the visitors in Freiburg.

Felix Passlack’s foul on Nicolas Hofler gave Grifo all the opportunity he needed to open the scoring with a brilliant free kick in off the post in the sixth minute.

Jude Bellingham missed a good chance to equalize, then later hit the post before Jeong Woo-yeong went close for Freiburg.

Sallai made it 2-0 early in the second half, when Bellingham lost the ball to Hofler, who sent it on to Jeong. Lucas Holer laid Jeong’s cross off for Sallai to score.

Passlack forced an own-goal from Yannik Keitel in the 59th, and Dortmund kept pushing for more.

Gio Reyna sent Erling Haaland on his way but the Norwegian fired over in the 68th, and Dortmund’s late pressure failed to yield an equalizer.

Wolfsburg substitute Lukas Nmecha scored late for a 2-1 win at Hertha Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt drew with Augsburg 0-0.

Also, promoted Greuther Furth drew with Arminia Bielefeld 1-1, and Bochum earned its first win in the top flight after an 11-year absence with a 2-0 victory at home over Mainz.