Borussia Dortmund gave up a win against Werder Bremen that was believed to be secure within six minutes. The unanimous opinion after the game: This defeat was deserved.
In the 60-year history of the Bundesliga, a team has never conceded three goals after the 89th minute. That no longer applies since Saturday, because Borussia Dortmund involuntarily entered the history books.
BVB lost on the third day of the match, promoted Werder Bremen 2:3 (1:0). Up until the 89th minute, Borussia was 2-0 up after goals from Julian Brandt (45′) and Raphael Guerreiro (77′). But Lee Buchanan (89′), Niklas Schmidt (90’+3′) and Oliver Burke (90’+5′) turned the game around for the promoted team, who celebrated their first win since returning to the Bundesliga.
Terzic: “Brutally annoying and stupid”
You looked in vain for a kind of shock or surprise in Borussia after the game. Instead, the unanimous opinion was: Bremen’s victory was deserved. “We didn’t show a good performance today. We can’t complain about this defeat,” Terzic told WDR. “It was a deserved defeat, we allowed way too much.” Terzic described the manner of the bankruptcy as “brutally annoying and stupid”.
It was flattering that BVB actually took a 2-0 lead. BVB started strong, but then also dropped sharply. Borussia did not develop any danger going forward. Striker Anthony Modeste, who made his home debut, looked like a foreign body and didn’t have a shot at the Bremen goal in 80 minutes of play. Youngster Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, still the “game changer” (Terzic) in the 3-1 win in Freiburg, dribbled too often and had no effect.
Early failure of Dahoud
The loss of Mo Dahoud, who had to leave the field early on with a shoulder injury, was painful in the truest sense of the word. “In the beginning we gave Werder a lot of ground, but Mo was a key factor in that because he kept finding the full-backs. It hurt us that he had to leave the field,” said Terzic. Substitute Emre Can could not even begin to replace Dahoud, instead making many ball losses.
Almost logically, the BVB goals came after individual actions. Shortly before the break, Bremen gave the otherwise weak Julian Brandt too much space and the national player hit the bottom corner from 17 meters. At 2-0, the ball landed after a corner at Guerreiro, who also scored from distance – with the help of Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka.
Reus: “Bremer play area better”
The Bremen game was completely different: The promoted team defended in a disciplined manner and was always dangerous on the counterattack. BVB keeper Gregor Kobel saved three times against ex-Dortmunder Marvin Ducksch. “We didn’t put the same energy on the pitch as Werder – and in the end we got the reward for it,” said Kobel after the game. Marco Reus analyzed: “Bremen’s playing system was better for 90 minutes. That should give us food for thought.”
In the final phase, Bremen then rewarded themselves for their effort. Last week, Werder drew 2-2 against VfB Stuttgart in the last minute of added time. Here, too, Burke scored. “It was clear to us that they were strong in that. Even if it was the 89th minute, the game wasn’t over by then,” Brandt told WDR. “If you then concede three goals, that’s too cheap.”
Above all, the way the goals were conceded annoyed Borussia. When Buchanan scored, BVB didn’t manage to clear the ball decisively. The goals from Schmidt and Burke came after counterattacks, after ball losses in midfield. “To concede these goals where we are clearly on the ball is brutally stupid,” said Terzic.
Initial euphoria gone
The initial euphoria after three wins from the first three competitive games is now gone at BVB. Terzic didn’t want to know anything about a damper at the right time. “There is no damper at the right time. This defeat will feel really bad in weeks.”
Next Saturday (3.30 p.m.) BVB travels to Hertha BSC. Terzic hopes to be able to fall back on Dahoud and the injured offensive players Donyell Malen and Karim Adeyemi.
