Borussia Dortmund advanced to the DFB-Pokal round of 16 with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Werder Bremen, secured by a 93rd-minute winner from substitute Marcel Sabitzer after head coach Niko Kovac shouted instructions from the sideline.
Kovac Calls the Winner from the Touchline
The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time when Niko Kovac made his voice heard over the stadium noise. The Borussia Dortmund manager recalled instructing the Austrian midfielder before the set-piece. I called it in,
Kovac told ZDF television after the match, explaining his shout of Sabi, shoot please!
because he knew what the player could do in that situation.
Marcel Sabitzer heard the directive amidst the crowd noise, adjusted the ball in the third minute of added time, and drove a powerful, precise shot past Werder Bremen goalkeeper Karl Hein. The late strike broke a 2-2 deadlock and sent the supporters into immediate celebration, avoiding a draining extra-time period just four days before a Bundesliga fixture against league leaders Bayern Munich.
Füllkrug Sparks Bremen Comeback After Slow Start
Werder Bremen manager Daniel Thioune left key attacking players on the bench to start the match, leaving Niclas Füllkrug and Mitchell Weiser out of the initial lineup. That decision left the hosts trailing 2-0 after a dominant first half from Dortmund, during which Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring in the 6th minute and Carney Chukwuemeka doubled the lead in the 17th minute.
Thioune introduced Füllkrug and Weiser around the 60-minute mark to shift the momentum. Füllkrug, who played as a fan favorite for Dortmund until summer 2024, capitalized immediately against his former club. He scored from a penalty kick and followed up with a determined solo run to level the score within a four-minute span, undoing Dortmund’s early advantage.
Borussia Dortmund, Almanya Kupası'nda son 16 turuna yükseldi. MS | Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Werder Bremen⚽ 6' Serhou Guirassy⚽ 17' Carney Chukwuemeka⚽ 65' Niclas Füllkrug⚽ 68' Niclas Füllkrug⚽ 90+2' Marcel Sabitzer pic.twitter.com/P8VEE6mExx
Kovac Uses Rotation to Expand Dortmund Depth
Both teams managed player loads, though with differing results. While Werder’s slow start proved too steep a hurdle despite Füllkrug’s brace and Weiser’s missed opportunity in the 75th minute, Kovac’s recent squad rotation has expanded Dortmund’s operational depth. Players like Sabitzer and Chukwuemeka have reclaimed starting options, pushing several youth prospects down to the U23 side in the Regionalliga.
Dortmund must now turn their immediate attention to the fixture in Munich. Coach Kovac noted that young talent Konstantinos Karetsas has resumed pain-free straight-line running after an ankle injury, but a final decision on his availability for Saturday’s clash will be made closer to kickoff.
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