Three VAR deployments and BVB turning up the heat in the second half: Borussia Dortmund deservedly defeated 1. FC Union Berlin after falling behind in the Bundesliga.
Dortmund had the upper hand on Saturday (October 7th, 2023) with 4:2 (1:2). Niclas Füllkrug put BVB in the front against Union Berlin (7th), but Robin Gosens (9th) and Leonardo Bonucci (31st, penalty kick) had the right answers ready. A strong second half for BVB resulted in goals from Nico Schlotterbeck (49′), Julian Brandt (54′) and Julian Ryerson (71′).
Two corners, two early goals for Dortmund and Union
The start of the game had no highlights. The entire first half wasn’t exactly a fireworks display of footballing inspiration; instead, the decisive scenes took place based on standard situations.
Füllkrug was left alone during a corner by Marco Reus, and Bonucci collided with central defender Diogo Leite in the crowd. He could no longer follow the German national striker and Füllkrug was exhausted. His header was parried by Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow, but the follow-up shot was spot on.
However, BVB also revealed coordination problems when it came to high balls, and none of the defensive lines were particularly confident. And so the guests also scored after an early corner kick: Gosens’ header after a cross from Christopher Trimmel was decisively directed into the net by Füllkrug, who had just been celebrated as a goalscorer. The goal was awarded to Gosens.
VAR interventions dominate the first half
There was no flow of the game after that. This was mainly due to three VAR deployments. At first, Dortmund were annoyed about the supposed second goal conceded by the set piece: Alex Král headed a Trimmel free kick into the net (18th). But after a minute-long VAR check, the goal was disallowed for offside. Doubly bitter for Union: Král had to leave the field injured while waiting for the decision. He was replaced by Lucas Toursart (20th).
Shortly afterwards there was a mirror image scene on the other side: free kick Reus, Füllkrug header, the supposed lead for Dortmund. But this too was whistled because the goalscorer was offside, the decision was also confirmed by the VAR check (29th).
The third VAR situation in the first half caused BVB frustration again. Mats Hummels stepped on Sheraldo Becker’s foot in the penalty area as he shot on goal. After a VAR check, referee Patrick Ittrich decided on a yellow card for Hummels and a penalty for Union, and Bonucci then scored his first Bundesliga goal from the spot.
“Especially in the first half it was difficult to keep up the tempo and rhythm of the game. There were a lot of very long interruptions,” said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic, who was nevertheless satisfied with the way the game went.
Schlotterbeck’s hammer initiates BVB frenzy
Dortmund therefore came out of the dressing room with a fair amount of anger in their stomachs. BVB immediately put pressure on, Berlin didn’t have much to counter Dortmund in terms of play throughout the second half. The equalizer went to Schlotterbeck, whose long-range shot Union goalkeeper Rönnow could no longer prevent from hitting the target with his fingertips.
Borussia then played themselves into a frenzy. Reus set up Joker Brandt perfectly with his second assist. He replaced Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in the second half (46th). Shortly before the start of the final quarter of an hour, after another furious attack, Ryerson’s volley ended up in the net because Gosens deflected it so that Rönnow had to reach behind him again.
BVB welcomes Werder, Union meets Stuttgart
After the international break, Dortmund opens the 8th matchday under floodlights against Bremen (Friday, October 20, 2023, 8:30 p.m.). Union Berlin is at home against VfB Stuttgart (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.).