Marcel Sabitzer scored in the 93rd minute as Borussia Dortmund survived a dramatic fightback from Werder Bremen to win 3-2 and reach the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal.
Dortmund appeared to be in control after taking a two-goal lead, but former Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug scored twice in quick succession after half-time to bring Werder level.
Sabitzer then settled the tie with a curling free-kick from the edge of the penalty area, giving Niko Kovac’s side victory in a match that began late at Signa Iduna Park.
Once play finally got under way, Dortmund needed less than six minutes to take the lead. Julian Ryerson delivered the final pass after a slick team move and Serhou Guirassy finished from close range.
Maximilian Beier thought he had added another, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Dortmund did not have to wait long for a second goal, though, with Carney Chukwuemeka converting in the 17th minute after Jobe Bellingham had headed the ball down for him.
Werder changed the momentum after the interval with the introduction of Fullkrug. The substitute had been on the pitch for only six minutes when he converted a penalty after Mick Schmetgens was fouled.
Three minutes later, Fullkrug completed his double in impressive fashion. He put the ball through Waldemar Anton’s legs before driving his finish into the net to make it 2-2.
Dortmund regained the lead only in stoppage time, when Sabitzer bent his free-kick into the net to secure their progress.
Fullkrug’s two goals took his tally to 11 in all competitions this season. That makes him the highest-scoring Bundesliga player in 2026-27, moving him ahead of Michael Olise and Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane, who have both scored 10.
The striker has also scored in seven consecutive matches, matching Werder’s Bundesliga-era record set by Rudi Voller between November 1982 and March 1983.
It was only Fullkrug’s second brace in a DFB-Pokal tie. His first came in August 2017, when he scored twice for Hannover against Bonner SC.
Sabitzer’s winner was his first goal since he scored against Werder in January. It also ended Dortmund’s wait for a direct free-kick goal, with their previous one coming in November 2024 when Julian Brandt scored against Freiburg.
Although Dortmund advanced, Kovac will be unhappy with the way his team allowed a 2-0 advantage to disappear. The early lead was the earliest Borussia Dortmund had established a two-goal advantage in a cup match since February 2021.
