Dortmund Advances to DFB-Pokal Quarter-Finals with Late Free-Kick Winner
Borussia Dortmund secured their spot in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals with a thrilling 3-2 win over Werder Bremen, finalized by a stoppage-time free-kick from Marcel Sabitzer.
Dortmund started strong, taking a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals from Serhou Guirassy and Carney Chukwuemeka. However, after halftime, former BVB striker Niclas Füllkrug scored two quick goals for Bremen, leveling the match before Sabitzer dramatically sealed the victory in the third minute of stoppage time.
The Austrian midfielder executed a free-kick under somewhat confusing instructions from the Dortmund sidelines. “It was totally crazy. Actually, Schlotti {Nico Schlotterbeck} had told Sabi {Marcel Sabitzer} to let Daniel {Svensson} cross the ball—in other words, to cross it away from the goal. I then shouted from the sideline, ‘Sabi, please shoot!’ Because I know what kind of shot he has. He listened to the coach, and he deserves credit for that,” Kovac explained in a ZDF interview.
Following the game, Sabitzer acknowledged that Kovac’s shout from the sidelines inspired him to take the shot, enhancing his confidence. “I heard something from the sidelines. The coach told me to shoot. That gave me even more confidence to do it. Schlotti waved me off inside the box, but I told him afterward: ‘Don’t ever do that again—you saw what happened.'”
This late goal not only clinched the victory but also marked a turning point for Dortmund, who have experienced a resurgence following a challenging period characterized by consecutive Bundesliga draws and a defeat in the Champions League. Their turnaround began with a 2-1 triumph over Sabah FK in the Champions League, followed by a narrow 1-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. With the win over Bremen, Dortmund has now recorded three straight victories across all competitions.
Looking ahead, BVB will focus on their upcoming Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich, entering the match with renewed momentum from their hard-fought win.
