Niclas Füllkrug turned a looming defeat into a dramatic showcase in the DFB-Pokal, coming off the bench to score twice against Borussia Dortmund and nearly reversing Werder Bremen's fortunes.
Dortmund took control early in the cup tie, establishing a 2-0 advantage before halftime courtesy of strikes from Serhou Guirassy in the 6th minute and Carney Chukwuemeka in the 17th minute. Werder Bremen, who opted to rest key starters under head coach Daniel Thioune, started Cedric Itten in attack but struggled to generate clear-cut opportunities during the opening period.
Second-Half Turnaround
Thioune altered his approach near the hour mark, introducing Füllkrug alongside established regulars Mitchell Weiser, Ludovit Reis, and Senne Lynen. The tactical shift yielded immediate dividends when Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson brought down Mick Schmetgens inside the penalty area. As detailed in match reporting by Goal.com Deutschland, Füllkrug stepped up to convert the 65th-minute spot kick, narrowing the deficit to 2-1.
Füllkrug then leveled the match with a moment of individual brilliance. Picking up the ball near the center circle, the 33-year-old striker nutmegged Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton, embarked on a solo drive toward the box, and unleashed an 18-meter strike into the net to make it 2-2. The spectacular effort drew widespread astonishment from observers, including Sky expert Fabian Kloß, who described the technical sequence as extraordinary.
| Metric / Detail | Match Record | Context / Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Niclas Füllkrug | Werder Bremen forward |
| Opponent | Borussia Dortmund | DFB-Pokal fixture |
| Goals Scored | 2 (65' pen, 2-2 equalizer) | Entered as second-half substitute |
| Season Total | 11 goals in 9 games | Across all competitive appearances |
| Next Target | TSG Hoffenheim | Chance to tie Rudi Völler's 1982/83 record |
Chasing Rudi Völler's 44-Year Club Record
The double against Dortmund lifted Füllkrug's scoring record to 11 goals in nine competitive fixtures this season, maintaining a scoring streak in every match played since the 1-4 league-opening loss against SC Freiburg.
Füllkrug has now scored in six consecutive Bundesliga-relevant appearances. If he scores in Werder's upcoming league fixture against TSG Hoffenheim, he will equal a 44-year-old Werder Bremen club record established by Rudi Völler, who scored in seven consecutive Bundesliga matches during the 1982/83 campaign.
