BERLIN — Borussia Dortmund conceded a record three goals from the 89th minute to lose 3-2 to Werder Bremen on Saturday, ending its winning start to the Bundesliga.
Dortmund was 2-0 up and on course for its third win from three league games. Then Bremen mounted a remarkable comeback to stun the home team as the visitors became the first team in the Bundesliga to score three goals so late in a match.
It started with English defender Lee Buchanan scoring what looked like a late consolation. It proved to be just the start for the promoted visitors.
Niklas Schmidt equalized in the third minute of injury time, two minutes before Scotland forward Oliver Burke scored the winning goal to set off wild celebrations among the traveling supporters.
“Without getting into details, what happens in the changing room stays there, but the mood was very, very good,” Bremen coach Ole Werner said after composing himself. The normally serene Werner had been punching the air in delight.
It was Bremen's first win since promotion back to the Bundesliga. And fully deserved.
Dortmund was outplayed for much of the game. It was nevertheless 2-0 up thanks to long-distance shots from Julian Brandt in first-half injury time and Raphaël Guerreiro in the 77th. They were the home team’s first and second shots on target.
Dortmund's Gio Reyna came on in the 62nd for his first competitive appearance for since April 8, when the American reinjured his right hamstring after less than two minutes in Stuttgart.
Dortmund’s much-vaunted offence had looked short of ideas against Bremen, who had the best chances of the first half through Marvin Ducksch, back at his hometown club.
But Brandt scored just before the break, when the Bremen-born midfielder eluded a couple of defenders just outside the penalty area before shooting inside the far post.
Bremen remained the better side, having a penalty appeal waved away before Niko Schlotterbeck made a crucial block to deny Anthony Jung.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzić reacted with three substitutions with half an hour remaining, Reyna among them.
But Werner's changes had a much greater effect. Buchanan and Schmidt came on in the 70th, and Burke in the 81st after Guerreiro had made it 2-0. They all scored.
“It was a deserved loss. We didn't play a good game today,” Terzić said. “It was a very poor performance from us ... Still, when you're winning 2-0 up to the 88th minute, you have to win the game. And how we conceded the goals was really stupid. So annoying. And yeah, that's how it is. We're left with empty hands.”
ANOTHER UNION COUP
American forward Jordan Pefok scored again and set up another goal for Union Berlin to beat Leipzig 2-1 for the fourth straight time in the Bundesliga.
Leipzig’s 2-1 win in the German Cup last April was the only respite for the energy drink-backed club.
Sheraldo Becker set Pefok on his way to open the scoring on a counterattack in the 32nd, six minutes before Pefok returned the favor for Becker to make it 2-0 with another brilliant finish. Becker switched play from his right foot to his left to elude Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol and rifle his shot inside the far post.
Both Pefok and Becker had also scored in Union’s derby win over Hertha Berlin in the opening round and they went off to thunderous applause in the second half.
Willi Orban pulled one back with a header to a corner in the 83rd, but Union’s defense held firm.
Unbeaten Union moved second with its second win, while Leipzig has only two points from its opening three games.
LEVERKUSEN LOSES AGAIN
Bayer Leverkusen slumped to its third consecutive Bundesliga loss — after being knocked out in the first round of the German Cup — when sharp-shooting Hoffenheim racked up a 3-0 win.
Christoph Baumgartner scored early with his heel when he was one of two Hoffenheim players facing seven Leverkusen defenders, Andrej Kramaric made-2-0 in the 35th and Georginio Rutter scored with a brilliant shot from distance in the 78th.
Leverkusen hadn’t played badly and the home team’s afternoon was summarized when Kerem Demirbay hit the post with a free kick.
PENALTY WOES
Schalke forward Simon Teerode squandered two penalty opportunities in a 0-0 draw in Wolfsburg.
Koen Casteels saved Teerode’s first effort, but the Schalke forward was given another chance as the Wolfsburg ’keeper had moved off his line. Casteels then also saved the next effort – within the rules this time.
Vincenzo Grifo’s early goal was enough for Freiburg to win in Stuttgart 1-0, and Mainz won 2-1 in Augsburg – another game with a missed penalty.
