Dortmund's 3-2 home loss to Bayern Munich last week all but ended their slim Bundesliga title hopes. But Saturday's win took second-placed Dortmund eight points clear of fifth-placed RB Leipzig.

Beier teed up Guirassy in the 16th minute, floating a ball over the Cologne defence for the Guinean to score his 12th Bundesliga goal this season.

The hosts' hopes of fighting their way back dimmed just before half-time when Jahmai Simpson-Pusey planted his studs in Beier's heel and referee Daniel Siebert upgraded his yellow card to red after a VAR review.

Beier was in the thick of things again when he swept home on the hour mark. Jakub Kaminski scored a late consolation for the hosts, but Dortmund held on for their first league victory since mid-February.

Dortmund manager Niko Kovac cut a frustrated figure after full-time, telling Sky Germany: "We won a game today in which we didn't play well - and the coach has every right to be angry."

Kovac confirmed media reports midfielder Julian Brandt, who set up Beier's goal, would leave the club after seven seasons at the end of the season when his contract expires.

J. Simpson

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