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Dortmund still alive |
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German Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund remain alive in the fight to qualify from Group J of the Europa League after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Karpaty Lviv.
Shinji Kawaga put Dortmund ahead after five minutes and Mats Hummels made it 2-0 in the 49th minute before Robert Lewandowski finished off the scoring in the 89th minute.
Dortmund had not won in the group since their 4-3 win at Lviv in their first game but this result moves them on to eight points with one match remaining.
Karpaty entered the game with no hope of progressing and remain in last place with no points.
Dortmund were without top scorer Lucas Barrios, who had picked up a knee injury on the weekend, but that didn't stop the Germans from grabbing the lead after just five minutes.
Lviv failed to clear a corner kick and Nuri Sahin sent a left-footed cross from the right side into the box which Kawaga headed just inside the right post from eight yards out.
The hosts missed a golden chance to double the lead eight minutes later as Lewandowski raced through on Vitaly Rudenko but the Polish international could not beat the Karpaty keeper.
The hosts again went close after 22 minutes but Kawaga's fierce shot went just wide of the left-hand post.
Lviv finally had a good chance in the 24th minute with Igor Khudobyak's dangerous free-kick into the box being cleared by Dortmund's Sven Bender.
Dortmund had outplayed the Ukrainians in the first half but still could not double the lead as Kevin Grosskretuz fired wide after a swift counter-attack.
Karpaty appealed for a penalty just before the break as Neven Subotic ran into Mykhaylo Kopolovets in the area, but referee Eric Braamhaar did not point to the spot.
Dortmund doubled their advantage four minutes after the break as Sahin's free-kick was headed home by Hummels despite Rudenko getting a hand to the ball.
Kawaga nearly scored his second in the 57th minute but his header was deflected wide and Lewandowski headed wide from the ensuing corner.
Rudenko then made another superb save with 11 minutes to play, stopping Lewandowski.
But Lewandowski made it 3-0 in the 89th minute after collecting a pass by Sahin, cutting in from the right and firing home.
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