Füllkrug scores stoppage-time equaliser as Werder Bremen draw 2-2 at Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund threw away what looked like a comfortable victory on Friday night. They controlled the match from start to finish against Werder Bremen, went 2-0 up with ten minutes remaining and still ended up conceding twice in the closing stages. Niclas Füllkrug headed the equaliser in stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw that ends Dortmund's perfect Bundesliga start and leaves top spot within reach of Bayern Munich and Freiburg.

• Dortmund led through goals from Daniel Svensson and Nico Schlotterbeck but failed to close the game out.
• Ludovit Reis pulled one back in the 88th minute before Füllkrug levelled in added time.
• Estonian goalkeeper Karl Hein was named MVP after a string of outstanding saves kept Werder Bremen alive.
• Dortmund remain top with 13 points but can be overtaken by Bayern Munich and Freiburg this weekend.
• Füllkrug scored against the club he represented during the 2023-24 season.

Dortmund dominate but Karl Hein stands firm

The match was one-way traffic from the opening whistle. Niko Kovac's side monopolised possession while Werder Bremen sat deep and looked to absorb pressure. For much of the first half, Dortmund moved the ball patiently but struggled to find a cutting edge. The first clear chance of the night actually fell to the visitors, when Ludovit Reis broke down the right and sent a low cross-shot just wide in the 37th minute.

That warning sparked Dortmund into life. In the closing stages of the first half, Marcel Sabitzer curled a free-kick against the post, and Hein produced the first of his many big saves by diving to keep out Maximilian Beier's effort with a strong hand.

Estonian goalkeeper frustrates the Bundesliga leaders

Kovac's half-time instructions clearly had an effect. Dortmund returned to the pitch with more intent, playing quicker combinations between the lines and generating constant danger. Yet time and again they found Hein in the way. The goalkeeper denied Nico Schlotterbeck from close range shortly after the restart and then pushed away a volley from Nathan Nwaneri.

Hein's influence went beyond his shot-stopping. With one long ball he released Füllkrug through on goal, forcing Gregor Kobel into a remarkable save as he blocked the striker's effort with his foot. It served as a warning of what was to come.

Svensson and Schlotterbeck put Dortmund in control

Dortmund kept pushing and saw an overhead kick from Nwaneri ruled out in the 63rd minute after Waldemar Anton was adjudged to have fouled Füllkrug in the build-up. Werder Bremen's resistance finally broke when the hosts struck on a rare counter-attack. Serhou Guirassy surged down the right, the substitute Fabio Silva miscued his attempt and inadvertently teed up Daniel Svensson, who slid in to convert from close range in the 80th minute.

Schlotterbeck appeared to make the points safe five minutes later. The centre-back rose at the back post to head in a corner delivered by Joey Veerman, giving Dortmund a 2-0 cushion.

Reis and Füllkrug complete a dramatic late fightback

With a two-goal lead, Dortmund dropped deep to protect the result. The decision backfired spectacularly. Werder Bremen, who had spent most of the evening defending, got back into the game when Ludovit Reis fired a precise low strike past Kobel from outside the box in the 88th minute.

The equaliser arrived deep into stoppage time. Marco Grüll swung a free-kick into the area and Füllkrug rose to head the ball into the net, timing his run to beat the offside trap as Kobel came off his line. The striker, who wore the Dortmund shirt during the 2023-24 campaign, punished his former club and silenced the home crowd.

What the draw means for Dortmund in the Bundesliga title race

The result brings an end to Dortmund's flawless start to the domestic season. Kovac's men had won their opening four Bundesliga fixtures and still lead the table with 13 points. However, Bayern Munich and Freiburg, both with 10 points, can now close the gap. Bayern visit Augsburg on Saturday, while Freiburg host Schalke on Sunday, with both sides capable of leapfrogging Dortmund at the top.

Beyond the dropped points, the manner of the collapse raises questions about Dortmund's game management when protecting a lead. Kovac will need to address the defensive vulnerability that allowed Werder Bremen to snatch a draw that had looked impossible for most of the night.