Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen (centre) celebrates after scoring a goal against Leverkusen during their Bundesliga game, yesterday.
Berlin: Yussuf Poulsen's late goal sealed ten-man RB Leipzig's 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen yesterday to trim Bayern Munich's runaway lead to seven points with seven Bundesliga games left.
Second-placed Leipzig took their chance to reduce the 10-point gap and sealed the win in a dramatic final five minutes.
Hosts Leipzig were reduced to 10 men when captain Willi Orban was sent off for a second yellow card on 88 minutes for a marginal foul on Leverkusen's Germany forward Kevin Volland.
With a large hint of sarcasm, Leipzig's 24-year-old captain shook hands with the referee before going off having also been booked in the opening exchanges for a challenge on Volland.
But despite the numerical disadvantage, Leipzig claimed the three points through their Scandinavian combination.
Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg put in the cross -- his 16th assistant of the season -- for Denmark's Poulsen to slot home for the dramatic winner.
Leipzig's victory was a big step towards direct Champions League qualification next season and they are seven points ahead of third-placed Hoffenheim, who crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Hamburg. Elsewhere, ex-Germany midfielder Aaron Hunt stole the show for Hamburg – who are unbeaten at home in their last nine league games -- with both goals as Hoffenheim suffered only their third defeat this season.
Wolfsburg, the 2009 German champions, remain on the brink of the relegation battle in 14th -- just one point from the bottom three -- after their 4-1 hammering away to Schalke, who are in mid-table.
