Borussia Dortmund Edge Werder Bremen 3-2 in DFB-Pokal Thriller as Sabitzer Scores Late Winner

Borussia Dortmund booked their place in the next round of the DFB-Pokal after defeating Werder Bremen 3-2 in a thrilling second-round encounter at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night.

Dortmund appeared to be cruising after taking a two-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes, but Werder Bremen produced a remarkable response after the break and levelled the contest through a Niclas Füllkrug brace.

With extra time looking increasingly likely, Marcel Sabitzer became the hero for the home side, scoring in the third minute of stoppage time to give Dortmund a dramatic victory.

The result also continued Dortmund’s strong start to this season’s cup campaign after they had defeated fifth-tier side HEBC 5-0 in the opening round.

Dortmund Make Fast Start

Dortmund wasted little time putting pressure on their visitors and found the breakthrough after just six minutes.

Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring to give Niko Kovač’s side an early advantage and immediately put Bremen on the back foot.

The hosts continued to control much of the opening period and doubled their advantage in the 17th minute when Carney Chukwuemeka found the back of the net.

At 2-0 down, Bremen faced a difficult task against a Dortmund side that had established control of the contest. Dortmund also went into the interval with their two-goal cushion intact.

However, the visitors refused to allow the game to disappear from their grasp.

Füllkrug Brings Bremen Back

Werder returned from the break with greater attacking intent and began putting Dortmund under serious pressure.

Their persistence finally paid off in the 65th minute when Niclas Füllkrug converted from the penalty spot to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The goal dramatically changed the mood of the match. Bremen suddenly had belief, while Dortmund were forced to deal with growing pressure from their opponents.

Just four minutes later, Füllkrug struck again.

The former Dortmund forward completed his brace in the 69th minute, bringing Bremen level at 2-2 and setting up a tense final period at Signal Iduna Park.

The comeback was particularly impressive considering Bremen had been two goals behind before half-time.

Sabitzer Delivers the Decisive Moment

With both teams searching for the winning goal, the match entered stoppage time with the possibility of extra time looming.

Dortmund eventually found the breakthrough in the 90th+3 minute.

Marcel Sabitzer stepped up at the crucial moment and scored the winning goal, sending the home supporters into celebration and ending Bremen’s hopes of completing their comeback.

The Austrian midfielder’s late strike secured a 3-2 victory for Dortmund and spared the hosts from having to play another 30 minutes of cup football.

Sabitzer’s winner was also a fitting ending to an encounter that had swung dramatically between the two sides.

Dortmund Show Attacking Quality

The statistics highlighted how competitive the contest was.

Dortmund finished with 56 percent possession compared with Bremen’s 44 percent, while both teams registered 12 total shots.

The sides were also level when it came to shots off target, with six each. Bremen, however, had six shots on target compared with Dortmund’s four.

Dortmund also recorded two blocked shots, while Bremen had none.

Despite Bremen’s impressive response, Dortmund showed enough attacking quality to create the decisive moment when it mattered most.

The victory will also give Kovač plenty to consider. His team had looked comfortable during the opening half but allowed Bremen back into the match after the interval.

Man of the Match: Marcel Sabitzer

Marcel Sabitzer deserves the spotlight after producing the moment that ultimately decided the tie.

The Dortmund midfielder not only helped his side through a difficult contest but also delivered the winning goal in the 90th+3 minute.

His late strike demonstrated composure under pressure and ensured Dortmund avoided the extra-time period that had looked almost certain after Füllkrug’s second goal.

Sabitzer’s contribution was particularly important because Dortmund needed someone to step forward after surrendering their two-goal advantage.

While Guirassy and Chukwuemeka were responsible for putting Dortmund ahead, Sabitzer produced the goal that mattered most.

His stoppage-time finish turned what had threatened to become a frustrating night into another memorable cup victory for the Black and Yellows.

Bremen Leave With Plenty of Credit

Although Werder Bremen were eliminated, their second-half performance showed plenty of character.

After going into half-time two goals behind, Daniel Thioune’s side refused to surrender and completely changed the momentum of the match.

Füllkrug was central to that revival, scoring twice within four minutes to restore parity.

Bremen ultimately fell short because Sabitzer found a way through in the dying moments, but their response will give the team confidence despite the disappointing result.

A Dramatic Finish at Signal Iduna Park

The closing stages reflected the unpredictable nature of cup football, with neither side willing to settle for a draw. Dortmund pushed forward in search of a decisive opening, while Bremen remained dangerous whenever they moved into the final third.

The hosts had already seen their commanding advantage disappear, making the final minutes increasingly tense for the home crowd. Bremen’s equaliser had given the visitors momentum, but Dortmund continued looking for a response rather than allowing the game to drift toward extra time.

That determination eventually paid off when Sabitzer found the winning goal deep into stoppage time. The strike sparked huge celebrations among Dortmund supporters and brought an end to an encounter that had produced several momentum swings.

For Dortmund, the victory was ultimately about more than simply reaching the next round. They showed attacking quality in the first half, had to withstand serious pressure after the interval and still managed to produce a decisive moment when the match appeared destined for extra time.

Bremen can take encouragement from the way they recovered from two goals down, but Dortmund’s ability to respond at the crucial moment proved decisive.

For Dortmund, meanwhile, the most important thing was progression.

The 3-2 victory sends them into the next stage of the DFB-Pokal, although Kovač will know his team cannot afford similar lapses against stronger opponents.

Dortmund had the game under control, lost their advantage and then found a way to win it at the death.

That resilience could prove valuable as their cup journey continues.

For now, Sabitzer’s stoppage-time strike is the headline moment, as Dortmund survived a dramatic Werder Bremen comeback to advance with a 3-2 victory.