A stunning free-kick deep into stoppage time by Marcel Sabitzer broke Werder Bremen hearts as Borussia Dortmund scraped through a five-goal thriller in the second round of the German Cup, according to the Express Tribune. The drama unfolded after Dortmund had built a comfortable two-goal lead, only to be stunned by a rapid comeback from their opponents.
According to the Express Tribune, the hosts initially established their lead through goals from Serhou Guirassy and Carney Chukwuemeka. However, former Dortmund striker Niclas Fuellkrug stepped off the bench to level the scores with two goals in the space of four minutes. With the match seemingly headed for extra-time, Sabitzer curled a superb free-kick into the top left corner to secure the win for Dortmund, telling Sky Germany after the match, "I'm really happy it went in. My right foot has always been pretty decent. It's good for the team, but also good for me."
The report from the Express Tribune also detailed other fixtures from the competition. RB Leipzig overcame a red card to win 2-1 against third-division Rot-Weiss Essen, thanks to two goals in the final 12 minutes from Christoph Baumgartner, after Essen's Lucas Brumme had opened the scoring and Nicolas Seiwald was sent off just before half-time. Eintracht Frankfurt cruised to a 3-1 win against Hamburg with goals from Robin Koch, Jonathan Burkardt, and Younes Ebnoutalib. Meanwhile, Cologne eliminated Union Berlin 5-0 following a brace from Said El Mala, and other matches saw Mainz and Elversberg exit the tournament.
Background
According to the Express Tribune, the second round fixtures of the German Cup brought mixed fortunes for various clubs. Werder Bremen's Niclas Fuellkrug entered the match on a strong run, having scored in his past seven Bremen games and accumulating 11 goals in nine matches this season while on a season-long loan from West Ham, following a period where he scored just three times in 18 months in London. In another unusual build-up noted by the Express Tribune, Essen fans had concreted over the away fan entrance the night before their match against Leipzig, prompting city authorities to race against time to clear it before kick-off. Leipzig entered the tournament with recent history, having won the competition back-to-back in 2022 and 2023.
Why it matters
For sports fans in Pakistan who follow European football leagues and knockout competitions, results like Dortmund's dramatic late win highlight the unpredictable nature of domestic cup football. Such matches demonstrate how momentum can shift rapidly in high-stakes elimination rounds, capturing the global appeal of competitive club football.
What's next
According to the Express Tribune, holders Bayern Munich are scheduled to host Magdeburg on Wednesday in what will be Harry Kane's first match since winning the Ballon d'Or.