Berlin and Dortmund tie 1-1 in German Bundesliga

Dortmund held Berlin to a 1-1 draw after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cancelled out Valentin Stocker's opener at the kick-off of the 7th round in Bundesliga on Friday.

Third placed Borussia Dortmund controlled the proceedings but second placed Hertha Berlin opened the scoring out of the blue through Stocker before Aubameyang secured the hosts a 1-1 draw on home soil.

Thomas Tuchel's men took the reins from the kick-off whereas the visitors from Berlin defended deep to give the hosts a hard time. As a result, goal-scoring opportunities remained a rare occurrence in the first half.

Things changed after the half time as Valentin Stocker broke the deadlock against the run of the game with six minutes into the second half. The Switzerland international made use of a back-heel through ball from Vedad Ibisevic to beat onrushing goalkeeper Roman Buerki into the bottom left corner.

Dortmund pressed frenetically for the equalizer but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was unable to overcome Berlin custodian Rune Jarstein, who deflected Aubameyang's lob to the right post following a one-on-one from very close range in the 67th minute.

Berlin's goalkeeper was in the thick of things moments later after Dortmund got a handball penalty awarded. Aubameyang stepped up to level the scores from the spot but Jarstein was on guard to deny with a diving safe in the 77th minute.

However, Dortmund kept it bowling and was rewarded in the 80th minute when Aubameyang finally overcame Jarstein after a square pass to the far post from substitute Ousmane Dembele.

Both sides completed the encounter with ten-man as Dortmund's youngster Emre Mor saw a straight red card for a violent conduct in the 84th minute before Stocker was sent off as well due to a rude foul play in the dying seconds of the game.

With the result, both clubs stay on their positions, Berlin remain on the second place and Dortmund on the third position of the standings.

"We deserved the point," Berlin coach Pal Dardai said. "I am very satisfied with my teams performance."

The following fixtures are scheduled for Saturday: Monchengladbach host Hamburg, Cologne see Ingolstadt, Augsburg face Schalke, Hoffenheim encounter newly promoted Freiburg, Frankfurt take on front runners Bayern Munich and Bremen clash with Bayer Leverkusen. Endit