Niclas Fullkrug scored a stoppage-time header against his former club to rescue a 2-2 draw for Werder Bremen at Borussia Dortmund, denying the hosts a club-record-equalling fifth consecutive Bundesliga victory.
Dortmund had appeared on course to maintain their perfect start after Daniel Svensson and Nico Schlotterbeck put them 2-0 ahead, but Ludovit Reis reduced the deficit in the 88th minute before Fullkrug completed Bremen’s comeback.
The result ended Dortmund’s hopes of winning their opening five league matches for the first time since the 2015/16 season. Werder, meanwhile, have recovered from two goals down to avoid defeat in three of their past five visits to Dortmund.
Niko Kovac’s side dominated possession during a largely subdued first half, although it was Werder who looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Dortmund’s first opportunity came when Marcel Sabitzer lifted a shot over the crossbar.
The visitors were forced into an early change when Amos Pieper went off injured, with Oskar Wojcik replacing him. Neither side managed a shot on target during the opening 41 minutes.
Ludovit Reis then sent a warning to the home defence when his angled effort narrowly missed the far post. Sabitzer came even closer to breaking the deadlock, striking the stanchion behind the goal with a free-kick.
Karl Hein produced the first major save of the match shortly before half-time, making an excellent one-handed stop to keep out Maximilian Beier.
Dortmund increased the pressure after the interval. Hein twice denied deflected efforts from Nico Schlotterbeck and Ethan Nwaneri, before making another fine save from the Arsenal loanee later in the half.
Beier and Nwaneri both went close, while Fullkrug was denied from close range by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel as Bremen threatened to score against his former club.
Nwaneri thought he had finally broken the deadlock after following up Serhou Guirassy’s header with a spectacular overhead kick, but the effort was ruled out for an infringement inside the area.
Dortmund struck on the counter soon afterwards. Guirassy carried the ball down the right and delivered into the box, where Fabio Silva’s scuffed attempt fell for Svensson to slide in and score. The goal came in the Sweden defender’s 50th Bundesliga appearance.
Schlotterbeck made it 2-0 five minutes later, heading in from Joey Veerman’s corner.
But the centre-back’s misplaced pass handed Bremen a way back into the game. Reis intercepted and fired an impressive finish into the net in the 88th minute.
With Dortmund seemingly set to hold on, Fullkrug met Marco Grull’s floated cross with a powerful header to score in his fourth successive Bundesliga match and secure a point for Werder.
Schlotterbeck was named Flashscore’s Man of the Match.
