Leverkusen’s forward Karim Bellarabi prays in front of fans after the Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund in Dortmund on Saturday. (AFP)
Bayer Leverkusen striker Karim Bellarabi scored the fastest goal in the history of the German Bundesliga and Stefan Kiessling netted in stoppage time in a 2-0 victory at Borussia Dortmund Saturday.
Bellarabi’s goal was unofficially timed at nine seconds - two seconds faster than the previous quickets - as Leverkusen stunned Dortmund and left coach Juergen Klopp on the touchline shaking his head in disbelief.
From the kick-off, Hakan Calhanoglu touched the ball to Son Heung-Min, who passed to Sebastian Boenisch. He then fed Bellarabi, who cut in past defender Matthias Ginter before poking the ball past keeper Mitchell Langerak.
The goal was two seconds faster than the previous record, by Giovane Elber (for Bayern Munich, against Hamburg in January 1998), Ulf Kirsten (for Leverkusen against Kaiserslautern in March 2002) and Paul Freier (for Bochum against 1860 Munich in May 2003).
Bellarabi, 24, a German of Moroccan descent, was playing his first league game for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga’s 52nd season after returning from a year on loan at relegated Eintracht Braunschweig.
Kiessling wrapped up the win for the visitors when Leverkusen hit Dortmund on the break. Bellarabi fed the striker who found the roof of the net in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time.
“We did a lot of things really well,” Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt said. “We permanently attacked the opponents, were always active and won the ball well. It was a top game here in Dortmund and in the end I think we deserved the win.”
The defeat was a blow to Dortmund, who are hoping to overhaul Bayern Munich this season after twice finishing runners-up to the Bavarians.
Klopp can only take heart in the fact that Dortmund lost an opening game at home to Leverkusen in the 2010-2011 season, when they then went on to win the title.
Elsewhere Schalke followed up their shock German Cup exit to third-division Dynamo Dresden by losing 2-1 at Hanover after leading - a result that puts fresh pressure on coach Jens Keller.
Hanover struck two goals in three minutes with a fine winner from Spanish striker Joselu, one of several summer signings to make their mark for their new clubs on the first Saturday of the season.
After Hanover had fallen behind to a Klaas Jan Huntelaar goal right after the break, Edgar Prib netted in the 67th minute and Joselu, who arrived from Hoffenheim, rifled in a 25-metre shot inside the post in the 70th.
“I am extremely annoyed,” Keller said. “Up until the 67th minute our plan was working. It is tremendously irritating when you lose a game you had under control as a result of two counter-attacks.
“We made individual mistakes and took the wrong decisions, didn’t make the tactical foul. I can’t though accuse my team of not getting forward.”
Keller will now need a victory at home to champions Bayern next Saturday to avoid his position again being questioned as it was towards the end of last year, before a good run in the second half of the season saw Schalke finish third in the table.