Borussia Dortmund surrendered a late two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, conceding an equalizer to their former striker Niclas Füllkrug in the second minute of stoppage time. The result at Signal Iduna Park halts Dortmund’s winning run at four consecutive matches to open the German league season and leaves their hold on the top of the table vulnerable.
Niclas Füllkrug Strikes in Stoppage Time to Deny Dortmund
The match turned dramatically in the closing minutes after Borussia Dortmund appeared to have secured the points. Daniel Svensson broke the deadlock in the 80th minute following a turnover from Maximilian Beier, slotting past Werder Bremen goalkeeper Karl Hein. Five minutes later, Nico Schlotterbeck rose completely unmarked to head home a second goal and make it 2-0 in the 85th minute.
Werder Bremen responded immediately through Ludovit Reis, who found the back of the net in the 88th minute to cut the deficit to 2-1. Just as Dortmund looked to weather the late storm, Füllkrug capitalized on the renewed momentum. The forward, who was a former Dortmund player, met a late opportunity in the 92nd minute to level the score at 2-2.
“I score the goal for us and not against them,” Füllkrug said in a post-match interview with Sky, adding that he was simply happy to leave with a point. He praised the team’s willingness to fight back after finding a second wind in the closing stages.
Schlotterbeck Laments Late Goals After Dortmund Controlled Match
Dortmund captain Nico Schlotterbeck expressed frustration after the final whistle, noting that his side controlled the contest for the vast majority of the evening. “We actually had everything under control until the 88th minute, and then you concede two goals and walk away here with a draw,” Schlotterbeck said.
The opening hour offered few clear chances as Dortmund dominated possession against a deep-lying Werder defensive block. Neither side managed a shot on target during the first half-hour until Serhou Guirassy tested Hein with a 32nd-minute header from a corner kick. Bremen’s Ludovit Reis fired a flat shot just wide in the 37th minute, and Marcel Sabitzer sent a 30-meter free kick narrowly off target before halftime.
Dortmund increased the pressure after the break. Schlotterbeck tested Hein from distance in the 47th minute, and Ethan Nwaneri forced a sharp foot save from the Bremen keeper shortly after. Bremen nearly took a shock lead in the 54th minute when Füllkrug overpowered Joane Gadou, forcing goalkeeper Gregor Kobel into a desperate goal-line clearance with his foot.
Disallowed Goal and a Grueling October Schedule Ahead
Nwaneri thought he had doubled Dortmund’s lead in the 62nd minute when he converted a rebound with an overhead kick following a goal-line clearance. However, referee Christian Dingert disallowed the effort after reviewing a foul by Schlotterbeck in the buildup.
The draw marks the end of Dortmund’s perfect start to the domestic campaign and arrives at the start of a grueling autumn stretch. The club faces six additional fixtures across the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and UEFA Champions League throughout October, including upcoming European away trips to Norway and Azerbaijan.
Related reading
