Borussia Dortmund's DFB-Pokal run has come to an end after losing on penalties to a spirited Werder Bremen. After a tight opening 90 minutes, the match burst into life at the Signal Iduna Park, with four goals coming in extra time. Werder Bremen won 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw.
That wasn't in Dortmund's script... #DFBPokal #BVBSVW pic.twitter.com/U4HyiMUoWT
— The DFB-Pokal (@DFBPokal_EN) February 5, 2019
Werder Bremen started the match much better, scoring within five minutes through Milot Rashica. Max Kruse provided the assist from a brilliant, low free kick. The mass of Bremen supporters nearly lifted the roof off the stadium.
It took Dortmund until the stroke of halftime to get on the scoresheet, with Marco Reus scoring a fantastic free kick from outside the box.
After a goalless second half, the match went into extra time, and young manger Florian Kohfeldt brought on Claudio Pizarro. Lucien Favre brought on Maximilian Philipp and Jacob Bruun Larsen.
Christian Pulisic scored a well-worked goal on 105 minutes, and it looked like Dortmund was going to gain some momentum going into the second period of extra time.
A brilliant run and finish from Christian Pulisic! pic.twitter.com/rA18N81eJj
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 5, 2019
But Bremen wasn’t finished yet, and in the 108th minute substitute Pizarro scored a sublime goal, flicking the ball away from onrushing keeper Eric Oelschlagel and finishing on his second touch.
He is 40-freaking-years-old, but yet he’s still doing it at a high level. What a legend. Bravo, Claudio Pizarro. pic.twitter.com/foP6iPEEUr
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) February 5, 2019
Dortmund responded five minutes later, with Pulisic starting the play and finding Max Philipp, who cut the ball back in the box for Achraf Hakimi to cooly finish.
112 | GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!
HAKIMI PUTS US BACK ON TOP!!!!!#BVBSVW 3-2 pic.twitter.com/LWNQX88m09— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 5, 2019
It looked as though Dortmund finally closed out the match but Bremen refused to go down. Piling on the pressure late, Martin Harnik scored an excellent header from a Max Kruse corner.
At the end of extra time, the score was 3-3 and had to go to penalties. Dortmund’s Alcacer and Philipp both had their penalties saved by Jiri Pavlenka, while Bremen scored all four of its attempts to go through to the quarterfinals.
That. Was. Insane.
Bremen eliminate Dortmund in the Round of 16 on penalties after each team scores twice in extra time. pic.twitter.com/fYyBro4Izt— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 5, 2019
Bremen’s performance was worthy of the victory at the Signal Iduna Park, and Dortmund’s leaky backline ultimately led to its downfall. Bremen will find out its next opponent on Feb. 10. Dortmund now looks ahead to its weekend clash with Hoffenheim.
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