Borussia Dortmund falls flat for Kovac's debut
Borussia Dortmund fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga in Niko Kovac's first game at the helm, slipping further away from the top four.
Kovac, a Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich in 2018-2019, took the reins last week after a four-game losing run in all competitions led to the dismissal of Nuri Sahin.
Stuttgart had a familiar face to thank when it took the lead in the 50th minute, as defender Waldemar Anton, who left them for Dortmund last year, turned a cutback into his own goal.
Jeff Chabot's far-post header increased Stuttgart's lead just after the hour, but it had to absorb plenty of pressure as Dortmund dominated possession in the second half.
The hosts cut the deficit with Julian Brandt's low drive from a tight angle in the 81st minute, but their efforts to find an equaliser were derailed when defender Julian Ryerson was sent off for two yellow cards a minute from time.
Last season's UEFA Champions League finalist Dortmund, which faces Sporting in a European play-off next, is 11th on the Bundesliga table with 29 points, now six behind fourth-placed Stuttgart.
After previously enjoying a run of eight straight home wins, Dortmund is now winless in its past five home games in the league.
It is its worst such run on home soil since autumn 2006 under Bert van Marwijk.
