BERLIN (Reuters) – Forward Sebastien Haller scored twice as Borussia Dortmund cruised past fourth tier club TSV Schott Mainz 6-1 on Saturday in the German Cup first round to make a winning start to their domestic season.
Dortmund, who last season missed out on claiming the Bundesliga title only by failing to win their final match, enjoyed a fine start and were never troubled by their opponents.
The visitors, with 11,000 fans having travelled to Mainz, quickly carved out a two-goal lead with Ivory Coast forward Haller’s darting header in the 22nd minute and Julian Brandt’s finish from a Donyell Malen assist two minutes later.
The hosts reduced the deficit in the 34th before Haller weaved past three defenders to slot in his second goal just a minute later.
Dortmund struck again on the hour with Marcel Sabitzer drilling in after a superb solo effort from Marco Reus in the 57th, and Malen thundered in their fifth in the 79th after a quick passing combination.
Substitute Youssoufa Moukoko made it half a dozen with five minutes left to complete the rout ahead of Dortmund’s Bundesliga start against Cologne next week.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, Editing by Hugh Lawson)
