Reus holds nerve to convert 121st-minute spot-kick

Boris Rupert reporting

The 72,732 spectators at Signal Iduna Park saw Union Berlin pose the greater threat in the first period, but it was BVB who took the lead through Pulisic on the 40-minute mark. Polter restored parity for the visitors against the run of play in the 63rd minute, only for Philipp to re-establish the lead for the home side following a wonderful attacking move 10 minutes later. There were further twists to come, however, with Polter's 88th-minute leveller forcing extra-time before BVB won the game in the 120th minute – as they did against Fürth in the First Round – through Reus.

The scenario: 
This rematch of a 2016/17 DFB Cup tie – which BVB were rather fortuitous to win on penalties – pitted the only two unbeaten teams in German professional against each other, and neither wanted to relinquish that record come the final whistle. Dortmund were facing a club from the capital for the seventh occasion, but had won all six of their previous cup clashes with Berlin-based sides. Union had only progressed beyond the Second Round once in the last decade.

Personnel matters: 
Alcácer was back on the bench for BVB, who in addition to Akanji, Schmelzer and Toljan were without Piszczek (knee), Delaney (knock) and Götze (infection). For what was their fourth of seven matches in the space of three weeks, Favre made seven changes from the side that drew 2-2 against Hertha in the league on Saturday: Hitz, Toprak, Weigl, Pulisic, Kagawa, Wolf and Philipp began in place of Bürki, Witsel, Sancho, Reus, Guerreiro (bench), Piszczek and Götze.

Tactics: 
The Black & Yellows lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation going forward but switched to a 4-4-2 – in which Kagawa played up top alongside Philipp – when their opponents had the ball. Union, meanwhile, opted for a highly versatile 4-1-4-1 system.

The match & analysis:
Both teams' attacking threat was limited to set-pieces in the first period, with Philipp forcing Union shot-stopper Gikiewicz into a save to stop his header from a corner while Hitz was called into action three times at the other end: the Swiss custodian saved Zulj's free-kick (22), before making a strong stop to palm a Lenz effort from 18-metres over the crossbar and thwarting Hübner's header from the ensuing corner (26).

Dortmund's build-up and attacking play suffered from a lack of precision, which was primarily attributable to the many personnel changes and the resulting lack of familiarity. They were forced into an early substitution, too, with Diallo sustaining a groin injury in the 11th minute and Guerreiro coming on in his stead.

With around half an hour on the clock, BVB gained a better foothold in the game and took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Pulisic reacted first to slot home a loose ball. The chance came after Gikiewicz had made a goal-line save to keep out a Kagawa header from the edge of the six-yard box following a Dahoud cross from the left flank (40). Union responded in style, with Redondo thundering a drive against the woodwork from 16 metres two minutes later.

Guerreiro came close to extending the advantage but spurned a 53rd-minute chance in the box, and both the score and the statistics were indicative of the home side's dominance: more shots (15-4), possession (60 percent) and tackles won (60 percent). Dortmund were playing with greater fluidity and purpose, and should have arguably been awarded an indirect free-kick when Hakimi went racing into the penalty area in the 62nd minute only to be obstructed by Hübner. But the referee let play continue and Union levelled barely a minute later when Lenz picked out Zulj on the edge of the box. He threaded the ball through to substitute Polter, who finished with an outstretched leg (63).

Philipp re-establishes lead with beautifully worked goal

With an all-star substitutes' bench of Bürki, Sancho, Alcácer, Reus, Witsel and Bruun Larsen watching on, the Black & Yellows re-established their lead with another wonderful attacking move. It all started when Zagadou headed a goal kick clear and things went very quickly – too quickly for the opposition – from there. Wolf found Kagawa, Kagawa found Philipp, and Philipp played a one-two with Pulisic before unleashing a shot from a centre-right position to make it 2-1 (73). It could have been 3-1 10 minutes later had Gikiewicz not made a stunning save to keep out another Philipp piledriver from 20 metres.

Instead, it was to be the capital club who delivered the next blow: Hitz threw the ball downfield and Wolf lost the aerial battle, allowing Zulj to set Polter up for his second of the night (88).

Extra-time: Hitz saves, Reus scores

Even though BVB had created way more shots than their opponents (18-12), it was the visitors who had enjoyed more of the chances (8-5) and Hitz did incredibly well to deny Hedlund from one of them six minutes into extra-time. At the other end, Toprak struck the post following a Reus free-kick (110), but the breakthrough came when the referee awarded a spot-kick for a foul on Pulisic by Friedrich in the box! The visitors' antics delayed the penalty by three minutes, but Reus held his nerve and coolly converted from the spot to seal a 3-2 victory (120+1).

All the goals and highlights at a click

Outlook: 
BVB are back in Bundesliga action on Saturday, when they travel to VfL Wolfsburg. Kick-off will be at 15:30 CET.

Teams & goals