Niclas Fullkrug headed home a stoppage-time equaliser against his former club as Werder Bremen came back from two goals down to hold Borussia Dortmund to a 2-2 draw in the Bundesliga on Friday, 10 October, ending the league leaders' perfect start to the season. The result snapped Dortmund's run of four consecutive victories and denied them a fifth.

First Half: Dortmund Knock but Cannot Break Through

Dortmund controlled possession from the outset but found Bremen's compact defensive shape difficult to penetrate. The first clear opening of the match came in the 37th minute, when Ludovit Reis broke through the centre and fired narrowly wide for the visitors. Marcel Sabitzer was inches away from opening the scoring when his free kick skimmed past the post.

Bremen goalkeeper Karl Hein also stood firm, denying Maximilian Beier after a precise pass from Ethan Nwaneri had carved open the defence. The half ended goalless, despite Dortmund's territorial dominance.

Second Half: Dortmund Strike Twice — Then Controversy

Dortmund intensified the pressure after the restart, with Nico Schlotterbeck and Nwaneri both threatening in quick succession. Hein again proved his value, blocking Nwaneri from close range. Nwaneri did eventually find the net with an acrobatic overhead kick, but the effort was disallowed — the referee had already halted play for an attacking foul in the build-up.

At the other end, Fullkrug had a chance to put Bremen in front, only for Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to deny the striker's effort. The game's deadlock finally broke in the 80th minute when a swift counterattack ended with Daniel Svensson finishing from close range to give the hosts the lead. Five minutes later, Schlotterbeck rose to meet Joey Veerman's corner and headed home, seemingly securing Dortmund's fifth straight win.

Bremen's Comeback — and Fullkrug's Moment

Trailing 2-0 with fewer than ten minutes remaining, Bremen refused to fold — and notably, this was not the first time they had mounted a late recovery this season. The club had already come back from a two-goal deficit to beat Augsburg just two weeks earlier. Reis pulled one back in the 88th minute with a strike that deflected off the inside of the post. Then, in stoppage time, Marco Gruell delivered a free kick that Fullkrug — the man who left Dortmund in the summer — powered past Kobel with a decisive header to earn Bremen a share of the spoils.

Bundesliga Standings After Round Five

Dortmund remain top of the Bundesliga with 13 points from five matches, though their unbeaten record now shows a blemish. Bremen climbed to fourth place with eight points. Bayern Munich and Freiburg are both three points off the summit but hold a game in hand as the fifth round of fixtures continued.

What's Next for Both Clubs

Dortmund will shift focus to Europe, travelling to face Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League before returning to Bundesliga action at Union Berlin. Bremen, meanwhile, host Paderborn in their next league outing. Whether Friday's fighting spirit translates into a sustained title challenge remains to be seen, but this draw signals Bremen's growing confidence as a top-half force.