"Extremely bitter": Dynamo's setback in the relegation battle

Dynamo Dresden suffered another setback in the tight relegation battle in the 2nd Bundesliga. Instead of perhaps already decisively pulling away from the bottom three places, the team in eleventh place lost 3-1 (0-2) at direct rivals Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Both Fortuna and Eintracht Braunschweig (2-0 at Kaiserslautern), who are currently 16th in the table, came within one point of Dynamo. Two more direct duels against Braunschweig and Holstein Kiel follow on the last three matchdays of the regular season.

Cedric Itten (11th minute), Emmanuel Iyoha (17th) and Luca Raimund (58th) scored the goals for Fortuna. It was the first win for Düsseldorf after five defeats in a row. Dresden had recently won twice in a row and now have to tremble again. Jakob Lemmer scored for Dynamo (90').

Stamm: "We have to stay clear"

"Düsseldorf were very efficient today. We had far more chances. When you see the opportunities you have and then the result, it's extremely bitter," said Dresden coach Thomas Stamm on Sky. "We didn't have the luck today. I'm basically satisfied with the way we played."

Stamm also remains confident in the relegation battle. "We mustn't question everything now," he said. "We have to stay clear. We have to shake it off. These are close games. We can draw the games again at home against Kaiserslautern, in Braunschweig and against Kiel. If we are more efficient than today."

Goalkeeper sets up first Fortuna goal

Fortuna got off to a dream start. A long clearance from keeper Florian Kastenmeier slipped through to Itten, who ran free towards the Dresden goal. Düsseldorf's top scorer by some distance overcame Dresden goalkeeper Tim Schreiber with ease.

And things got even better for the hosts. Iyoha headed over from a corner and Dresden's Robert Wagner deflected in to make it 2-0.

Dynamo also had their chances in an entertaining game. Wagner failed to beat the strong Kastenmeier (34'), while Schreiber saved from Itten at the other end (41'). When Raimund made it 3:0 after the break, the game was decided. Even Lemmer's late goal did nothing to change that.