Chaotic conditions in the video evidence and an embarrassing draw hailed Borussia Dortmund’s lightning debut from Niclas Füllkrug. Under strange circumstances, BVB lost a two-goal lead against the rebellious promoted team 1. FC Heidenheim and had to settle for a sensational 2-2 (2-0) win on Friday evening. The start of the season is in the sand.
The pros from Borussia Dortmund let themselves be whistled at with their heads hanging from the huge south stand, coach Edin Terzic sat alone on the coach’s bench and stared into space – on the third matchday the atmosphere at BVB was already reminiscent of the sad days of last season. Against promoted team 1. FC Heidenheim, the runner-up had to be content with a sensational 2:2 (2:0) on Friday evening under strange circumstances.
“We mostly beat ourselves in the second half,” said Julian Brandt on DAZN, after the break Dortmund gave a two-goal lead: “We get two goals where we actually have the ball for sure. We We have to learn to protect the ball as soon as possible, goals like that break our necks.”
Füllkrug debut is overlaid by VAR theater
Chaotic conditions in the video evidence had also initiated the equalization and thus overshadowed Niclas Füllkrug’s lightning debut. Referee Tobias Reichel initially took back an originally imposed penalty kick against Dortmund when the score was 2-1, but then went out to the screen – and pointed to the point again. Tim Kleindienst (83rd) scored the goal for Heidenheim’s first Bundesliga point.
The national striker Füllkrug, who surprisingly switched from Werder Bremen to BVB on Thursday, was greeted with a lot of applause, but was on the bench until the 78th minute: The place in Dortmund’s attack center belongs to Sebastien Haller until further notice. However, that could change quickly. The Frenchman was unlucky on Friday and also conceded the penalty to equalize.
Heidenheim initially tried in vain to build a fortress in their own penalty area, Julian Brandt cracked the defense in the seventh minute. After Emre Cans 2:0 (15th, hand penalty), a 75-minute show against an opponent who tried hard but had no chance at this level seemed to begin. But the FCH defended itself as best they could, scored through Eren Dinkci (61st) and fought on doggedly: with success.
Heidenheim comes back after the break
As expected, BVB had positioned their defense well ahead at the beginning, Heidenheim still lacked the air to breathe. Brandt used the first big chance from the turn with a shot under the crossbar. Can had previously gotten the ball on his elbows, which referee Reichel did not consider punishable. A few minutes later, however, he punished a handball by former BVB junior player Lennard Maloney according to the TV pictures.
The duel seemed to be decided, Heidenheim was under pressure far too rarely in a calm passing game. In the second half, coach Frank Schmidt brought on Marvin Pieringer as a second striker alongside Tim Kleindienst, who shortly afterwards missed a decent chance (49′). The possible goal by Patrick Mainka (51st) was denied recognition after a long video proof because of an alleged Pieringer handball. Nevertheless: Heidenheim showed how vulnerable the now much less dominant BVB is against inferior opponents.
Up front, Dortmund missed the best chances in a row around Dinkci’s goal. Donyell Malen, Ramy Bensebaini and Haller stood out in particular. Heidenheim stayed in the game and took full risks from the 70th minute – a little later Haller committed his momentous foul in the penalty area.