In injury time, Marcel Sabitzer curled a free kick that tipped Dortmund past Bremen in a nail‑biting DFB Cup second‑round clash.
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Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Guirassy 6′ (assist: Ryerson), 2-0 Chukwuemeka 17′ (assist: Bellingham), 2-1 Füllkrug 65′ (pen), 2-2 Füllkrug 69′ (assist: Lynen), 3-2 Sabitzer 90’+3
This DFB Cup second-round meeting followed a 2-2 Bundesliga draw between the sides earlier in the season, a game in which Bremen overturned a two-goal deficit. The two clubs had also met in the cup before, with Bremen winning 3-2 in the last-16 back in February 2020.
Niko Kovač made four changes to his side from the win over Eintacht Frankfurt, with Ramy Bensebaini suspended, while Daniel Thioune also rotated four players for Bremen, dropping ex-Dortmund striker Niclas Füllkrug to the bench.
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Serhou Guirassy handed Borussia Dortmund an early lead inside six minutes. – INA FASSBENDER –>
Dortmund surge to a two‑goal advantage
Dortmund struck early, six minutes in. Beier threaded a pass to Ryerson, whose flick set Guirassy free to tap home for 1‑0. A corner header by Guirassy was later ruled offside. Dortmund doubled the lead in the 17th minute when Bellingham rose to meet Veerman’s cross, finding Chukwuemeka, who slotted into the far corner.
Bremen’s sharpest chance before the break belonged to Cedric Itten, whose close‑range header lacked the angle to trouble Kobel.
Füllkrug sent Kobel the wrong way to slot home his 65th‑minute penalty. – Pau Barrena
Füllkrug pulls Bremen level
Thioune made four changes at the hour mark, introducing Füllkrug among others. Five minutes later Ryerson slipped Mick Schmetgens into the box, and Füllkrug calmly converted the ensuing spot‑kick, beating Kobel.
Three minutes on, Füllkrug collected a pass from Senne Lynen, surged forward and blasted a low shot into the far corner, equalising 2‑2. For my money, the swift substitutions turned the tide. With extra time looming, Kovač answered with three subs, bringing on Sabitzer, Daniel Svensson and Ethan Nwaneri.
Füllkrug celebrates after netting two goals within four minutes of the second half. – IMAGO/DeFodi.de