Match Report
BVB Concedes Stoppage-Time Equalizer Against Bremen
In the first Bundesliga match since the three-week international break, Maximilian Beier and Marcel Sabitzer — the only two Borussia players who were not away with their national teams recently — found themselves in the starting lineup. Beier played on the right wing in place of Julian Ryerson, with the Norwegian not even included in the matchday roster due to a bruised rib. Sabitzer replaced the injured Konstantinos Karetsas. On defense, Niko Kovac once again put his trust in the center back trio of Joane Gadou, Waldemar Anton and Nico Schlotterbeck. Germany ace Schlotterbeck had recovered just in time from his ligament injury suffered while on national team duty.
Against a visiting side that sat extremely deep throughout the first half, and which lost former Dortmund man Amos Pieper to injury in the 19th minute, the Black & Yellow took a long time to create any noteworthy looks. Half an hour in, with Bremen happy to sit back and defend, the game was still completely devoid of any promising attacks. The 0-0 shot count at that point of the match marked a first for BVB this season, as did its the team's 75% possession advantage.
Fittingly, the biggest round of applause from the stands of SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, which was once again sold out at a capacity of 81,365, came in response to a spectacular play by defensive prospect Joane Gadou, who sprinted back and reached a 50-meter throw by visiting goalkeeper Karl Jakob Hein at the last moment, managing to clear just ahead of Werder’s Chuki.
The away side, which had set up in a 5-4-1 formation, sat back inside its own half and looked for counterattacking opportunities. The strategy nearly paid off In the 37th minute, as a Ludovit Reis' shot following a quick transition whizzed narrowly wide of Gregor Kobel’s goal.
BVB Wakes Up Before Halftime
That scare served as a wake-up call for the Black & Yellow. Marcel Sabitzer’s subsequent free kick from just under 27 meters (roughly 29.5 yards) out missed the left post by mere centimeters (39’), followed by big chances for Sabitzer (41’) and Maxi Beier (43’), each of whom was denied by outstanding goalkeeper Hein.
In the second half, BVB pushed even harder for the go-ahead goal. After Schlotterbeck (47') and Nwaneri (49') tried their luck from outside the box, the league leaders continued to look more determined, more focused, and more decisive in their attacking efforts.
It was during this period of intense pressure by Dortmund that former Borussia man Niclas Füllkrug suddenly broke through. In the 54th minute, he ran toward Gregor Kobel but was knocked off balance by Joane Gadou, allowing the BVB 'keeper to make the point-black block.
With Beier and Svensson, who was making his 50th Bundesliga appearance, playing on opposite wings from the first half, BVB continued to lay siege to Werder’s penalty area. Nwaneri gave it a go from the left (61'), but his attempt was once again thwarted by Hein.
Nwaneri’s Bicycle Kick Ruled Offside
The young Englishman sent SIGNAL IDUNA PARK into a frenzy in the 63rd minute, finding the net by way of a superb bicycle kick following a Svensson corner. However, referee Christian Dingert called the play back for a prior attacking foul by Waldemar Anton. Nwaneri was then replaced by Fabio Silva
By introducing Konstantinos Karetsas and Joey Veerman into the match, BVB Head Coach Niko Kovac injected fresh energy into his side's efforts to break down Bremen’s defensive wall. Despite maintaining their dominance, the Black & Yellow struggled to find the evening's first goal. Meanwhile, Werder appeared content with the prospect of a scoreless draw..
15 Minutes of Chaos in Dortmund
In the final quarter-hour, SIGNAL IDUNA PARK turned into a madhouse. In the 80th minute, the Dortmund fans finally had reason to cheer. After winning the ball in his own half, Karetsas sent a long pass to Serhou Guirassy, who drove past Werder’s Marco Friedl and centered the ball toward a streaking Fabio Silva. The Portuguese mishit his attempted finish from a prime position, inadvertently putting the ball on a platter for Daniel Svensson and allowing the Swede to find the net from close range (80').
Less than five minutes later, Nico Schlotterbeck seemed to have put the game away by heading home a Karetsas corner kick for 2-0. But just as the Yellow Wall began celebrating their team's likely occupation of first place at the end of the matchday, Ludovit Reis struck back with a powerful right-footed shot from about 24 meters (roughly 26 yards) out, finding the back of the net via the inside of the left upright. The strike cut Werder's deficit to 2-1 and set up a thrilling conclusion to the match.
Having attacked furiously in the closing stages, the Bremen players rewarded themselves with a dramatic equalizer. Grüll chipped the ball toward the penalty spot, where Niclas Füllkrug headed home the equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time.
With the draw, Borussia Dortmund remains atop of the Bundesliga standings — at least temporarily. The Black & Yellow next face Norwegian champion FK Bodø/Glimt in a midweek UEFA Champions League clash. The match, which is scheduled to kick off at 9 p.m. CEST on Wednesday, October 14, marks the first of three away games in six days for BVB.
Borussia Dortmund – SV WERDER BREMEN 2-2 (0-0)
BVB: Kobel – Gadou, Anton, Schlotterbeck – Beier, Bellingham (72’ Veerman), Nmecha, Svensson – Nwaneri (63’ Fabio Silva), Sabitzer (72’ Karetsas) – Guirassy
Bench: Meyer, Bensebaini, Kaua Prates, Inacio, Albert, Reggiani
Werder: Hein – Arthur (65' Weiser), Pieper (19' Wojcik), Friedl, Deman – Regeer (65' Stalmach), Reis – Chuki (81' Erevbenagie) – Dinkci (81. Schmetgens), Grüll – Füllkrug
Bench: A. Schlager, Stark, Soylu, Itten
Goals: 1-0 Svensson (80', from Fabio Silva), 2-0 Schlotterbeck (85.', from Karetsas), 2-1 Reis (88'; from Fabio Silva), Füllkrug (90'+2., from Grüll)
Yellow cards: Veerman, Nmecha – Stalmach, Thioune
Referee: Christian Dingert (from Lebecksmühle)
Attendance: 81,365 (sellout) at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
Mats-Yannick Roth