A mistake by young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig meant Bayern Munich dropped points for the second Bundesliga game in a row with a 1-1 draw at Union Berlin on Saturday.
Bayern seemed on course for victory when Leroy Sané scored in the 75th minute after Bayern had struggled to break through Union's deep defensive line, but Urbig's error eight minutes later proved costly.
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Bayern's Harry Kane challenges for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin at the An der Alten Forsterei stadium in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Union's Benedict Hollerbach, center, scores his side's goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin at the An der Alten Forsterei stadium in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Dortmund's coach Niko Kovac reacts to the match during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena, in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday March 15, 2025. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)
Leipzig's Xavi Simons celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena, in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday March 15, 2025. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)
Leipzig's Xavi Simons celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena, in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday March 15, 2025. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)
Augsburg's Phillip Tietz, left, and Wolfsburg's Denis Vavro, right, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and VfL Wolfsburg in Augsburg, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Harry Langer/dpa via AP)
Gladbach's Alassane Plea celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Weserstadion in Bremen, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Carmen Jaspersen/dpa via AP)
Mainz's Andreas Hanche-Olsen celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and SC Freiburg at the Mewa Arena in Mainz, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Torsten Silz/dpa via AP)
Munich's Dayot Upamecano, left, and Berlin's Andrej Ilic, right, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and FC Bayern Munich in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Bayern's Michael Olise, left, fights for the ball with Union's Andras Schaefer during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin at the An der Alten Forsterei stadium in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Urbig came off his line to deal with a deflected cross which looped high into the air, but he could only palm it to Union striker Benedict Hollerbach, who hit it in low to level the score.
Bayern's lead in the Bundesliga over Bayer Leverkusen increased to nine points, but Leverkusen could cut the gap to six with a win Sunday over Stuttgart. Union is 13th.
“We're not happy with the result but it wasn't a bad performance,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said.
While Bayern has been strong in the Champions League, beating Leverkusen 5-0 over two legs to reach the quarterfinals, its Bundesliga form has dipped. The draw with Union follows a 3-2 loss last week against Bochum.
The 21-year-old Urbig played both of those games because first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer tore a calf muscle when celebrating a goal in the first leg against Leverkusen last week.
Dortmund's disappointing Bundesliga season took another turn for the worse with plenty of missed chances in a 2-0 loss at Leipzig that left the club 11th in the 18-team league.
Three days after beating Lille to reach the Champions League quarterfinals, Dortmund looked a different team in a loss which dealt another blow to its hopes of qualifying for any European competition next year.
Xavi Simons made the difference for Leipzig, scoring on a rebound in the 18th minute and setting up Loïs Openda to volley in the second goal in the 48th.
Dortmund came alive after that and racked up 26 total shots in the game, but a mix of strong goalkeeping by Leipzig's Peter Gulacsi, poor finishing and bad luck — three shots hit the crossbar or post — prevented a comeback.
It was the fourth loss in six Bundesliga games since coach Niko Kovac took charge last month, and he could face more problems after midfielder Marcel Sabitzer went off with a potentially serious knee injury.
Leipzig moved up to fifth after its first Bundesliga win in more than a month and only its third victory in 11 league games since the new year.
Mainz earned a 2-2 draw with Freiburg despite a first-half red card but its efforts to qualify for the Champions League for the first time were still dented.
Third-place Mainz twice took the lead with goals from Jonathan Burkardt and Andreas Hanche-Olsen — and ended Freiburg's run of not having conceded in six games — but Freiburg leveled each time. Mainz had Dominik Kohr sent off just before halftime for a foul as the last defender.
Alassane Pléa's hat trick powered Borussia Moenchengladbach to a 4-2 win over Werder Bremen which boosted seventh-place Gladbach's push for European qualification.
Phillip Tietz scored the only goal as Augsburg beat Wolfsburg 1-0, moving above Dortmund to ninth.
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Bayern's Harry Kane challenges for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin at the An der Alten Forsterei stadium in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Union's Benedict Hollerbach, center, scores his side's goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin at the An der Alten Forsterei stadium in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Dortmund's coach Niko Kovac reacts to the match during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena, in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday March 15, 2025. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)
Leipzig's Xavi Simons celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena, in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday March 15, 2025. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)
Leipzig's Xavi Simons celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena, in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday March 15, 2025. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)
Augsburg's Phillip Tietz, left, and Wolfsburg's Denis Vavro, right, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and VfL Wolfsburg in Augsburg, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Harry Langer/dpa via AP)
Gladbach's Alassane Plea celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Weserstadion in Bremen, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Carmen Jaspersen/dpa via AP)
Mainz's Andreas Hanche-Olsen celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and SC Freiburg at the Mewa Arena in Mainz, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Torsten Silz/dpa via AP)
Munich's Dayot Upamecano, left, and Berlin's Andrej Ilic, right, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and FC Bayern Munich in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Bayern's Michael Olise, left, fights for the ball with Union's Andras Schaefer during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin at the An der Alten Forsterei stadium in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Iran-backed rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said at least 31 people were killed.
“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”
He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the U.S. leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran’s advancing nuclear program. Trump has said he will not allow it to become operational.
The Houthis reported explosions in their territory Saturday evening, in the capital of Sanaa and the northern province of Saada, the rebels’ stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia, with more airstrikes reported in those areas early Sunday. Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility. The Houthis also reported airstrikes early Sunday on the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.
The Houthi-run Health Ministry said early Sunday that the death toll had climbed to 31, including women and children. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the ministry, said Sunday that another 101 people were wounded.
A U.S. official said this was the beginning of air strikes on Houthi targets that are expected to continue. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won’t deter them and they would retaliate against the U.S. “Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” he added on social media.
Another spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, on X, called Trump’s claims that the Houthis threaten international shipping routes “false and misleading.”
The airstrikes come a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing off Yemen in response to Israel’s latest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.
There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.
Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire in the war isn’t extended as negotiations continue over starting a second phase.
The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when this ceasefire in Gaza took effect.
The attacks raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic and other problems at home amid Yemen’s decade-long stalemated war that’s torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.
The Houthi media office said the U.S. strikes hit a residential neighborhood in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab. Residents said at least four airstrikes rocked the Eastern Geraf neighborhood there, terrifying women and children.
“The explosions were very strong,” said Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”
The Eastern Geraf is home to Houthi-held military facilities and a headquarters for the rebels' political bureau, located in a densely populated area.
The Houthis reported fresh strikes on the southwestern Dhamar province late Saturday. They said the strikes hit the outskirts of the provincial capital, also named Dhamar, and the district of Abs.
The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel’s military declined to comment.
However, Saturday's operation was conducted solely by the U.S., according to a U.S. official. It was the first strike on the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration.
Such broad-based missile strikes against the Houthis were carried out multiple times by the Biden administration in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region.
The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of Saturday's mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region.
Trump announced the strikes as he spent the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.
Baldor reported from Washington and Magdy reported from Cairo. AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller and AP writer Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report.
Yemenis clean debris in front of their shops after a U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)
Yemenis clean debris in front of their shops after a U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)
Yemenis clean debris in front of their shops after a U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)
This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from a carrier in an undisclosed location before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP)
This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from a carrier in an undisclosed location before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP)
This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from a carrier in an undisclosed location before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP)
This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from a carrier in an undisclosed location before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP)
Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)
President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)
Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman