Unstoppable Haaland leads Dortmund to 5-2 rout of Frankfurt

Berlin, Aug 15 (AP): Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus warned against over-praising teammate Erling Haaland after yet another outstanding performance from the Norway striker.

Haaland was involved in every goal Saturday as he led Dortmund to a 5-2 rout of Eintracht Frankfurt in their Bundesliga opener.

“We always have to be careful not to praise him too much. Only because there are still some things he needs to improve,” Reus said.

Inspired by thousands of Dortmund fans back in the stands and chanting his name, Haaland was generous toward teammates in Marco Rose’s first league game as Dortmund coach. The 21-year-old set up three goals and scored two after starting the season with a hat trick in the German Cup last weekend.

“He can score super goals, play from deep, his speed, his assertiveness – he’s a package, you have to say,” Reus said.

Haaland took his tally to 62 goals scored in 61 competitive games for Dortmund.

“We need him of course,” Reus said of the striker who has long attracted attention from other clubs. “We need him healthy, he can do what he wants, he gets a free pass. But we hope that he will stay healthy and that he will consistently put on special performances like today.”

The game attracted a 25,000 crowd, the maximum allowed under new regulations after a season in which fans were shut out due to coronavirus restrictions. Dortmund’s stadium can hold 81,000 supporters and those attending did their best to make up for the shortfall.

Haaland set up Reus for the opener in the 23rd, four minutes before Dortmund defender Felix Passlack equalized with an own-goal. It didn’t affect Haaland, who set up Thorgan Hazard in the 32nd, two minutes before he scored himself.

Reus had a goal ruled out through VAR as the ball had gone out of play, so it stayed 3-1 at the break.

New Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner responded with three changes but couldn’t stop the Dortmund express. Haaland set up American Gio Reyna for the home side’s fourth goal in the 58th, before Reus sent Haaland through for the fifth in the 70th.

Another Norwegian, Jens Petter Hauge, scored Frankfurt’s consolation on his debut in the 86th.

There was still time for Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp to deny Haaland a hat trick.