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Borussia Dortmund kept their slender Bundesliga title hopes alive with a convincing 5-1 win over Wolfsburg which cut the deficit on league-leading Bayern Munich to five points with two games of the season remaining. Two goals in as many minutes from Shinji Kagawa and Adrian Ramos set Dortmund on their way to victory before Marco Reus added a third on the hour mark. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then struck two quick-fire goals to put the result beyond doubt before Andre Schurrle grabbed a late consolation for Wolfsburg, whose hopes of qualifying for Europe next season ended. It was Mats Hummels' first game since announcing his intention to join Bayern Munich next season and he soon found out what the Dortmund fans made of that decision with boos greeting his every touch of the ball. Fortunately, the home team took an early lead to ensure the spirits in the stands were soon lifted. Henrikh Mkhitaryan's wayward volley turned into an assist for Kagawa, who diverted the ball into the back of Diego Benaglio's goal instinctively. Kagawa then turned provider for Ramos to double Dortmund's lead within two minutes, beating Benaglio with a diagonal effort. Reus almost added a third only a minute later as Dortmund threatened to run riot, and Wolfsburg could thank their goalkeeper for keeping the scoreline down. At the other end, the crossbar denied Daniel Caligiuri a goal against the run of play before Reus finally got the better of Benaglio, but sent his shot into the side-netting. Dortmund kept up the pressure in the second half with Benaglio continuing to thwart them as much as he could. On the hour mark, Sven Bender's shot was saved and Kagawa's rebound was also pushed aside by the Swiss custodian, but the attack was not over there and Ramos recovered the loose ball and pulled it back for Reus to place into the far corner. Benaglio denied Gonzalo Castro with another excellent save before even he was forced to hoist the white flat. Mkhitaryan lifted a cross to the far post where Aubameyang headed past Benaglio in the 77th minute, less than 10 minutes after he had taken to the field. Aubameyang added his second and Dortmund's fifth just a minute later, this time heading in Marcel Schmelzer's cross to beat Benaglio at his near post and take him onto 25 goals for the season, just two fewer than the league's top-scorer Robert Lewandowski. Dortmund felt enough damage had been inflicted on the Wolves, who grabbed a consolation four minutes from time with Max Kruse picking out Schurrle, who lifted his shot past the onrushing Roman Burki. It was only scant consolation for Wolfsburg, who will not participate in any European competition next season having just posted their best ever European season by reaching the Champions League this term.
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WOB
