Fullkrug rescue Bremen as Dortmund surrender late lead

Niclas Fullkrug headed a stoppage-time equalizer against his former club as Werder Bremen recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Borussia Dortmund on Friday, ending the Bundesliga leader's four-match winning start, reported Xinhua.

Dortmund controlled possession from the outset but struggled to find openings against Bremen's compact defence. Ludovit Reis produced the visitors' first major threat in the 37th minute, firing narrowly wide after breaking through the center.

Marcel Sabitzer then sent a free kick just past the post before Bremen goalkeeper Karl Hein denied Maximilian Beier following a clever pass from Ethan Nwaneri.

Dortmund emerged with greater urgency after the interval. Nico Schlotterbeck and Nwaneri threatened in quick succession before Hein again denied the latter from close range.

Nwaneri then found the net with an acrobatic overhead kick, but the referee had already stopped play for an attacking foul. At the other end, Fullkrug had a rare opportunity to put Bremen ahead, only for Gregor Kobel to deny the striker.

Dortmund finally broke through in the 80th minute when a counterattack ended with Daniel Svensson finishing from close range. Five minutes later, Schlotterbeck headed in Joey Veerman's corner to seemingly put the hosts in control.

Bremen, however, produced another remarkable late recovery after having overturned a two-goal deficit against Augsburg two weeks earlier.

Reis struck via the inside of the post in the 88th minute before Marco Gruell delivered a stoppage-time free kick for Fullkrug, who headed past Kobel to rescue a point against his former club.

The draw saw Dortmund top with 13 points from five matches, while Bremen climbed to fourth on eight. Bayern Munich and Freiburg sit three points behind Dortmund with a game in hand and are among the teams still to play in the fifth round.

Dortmund next travels to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League before visiting Union Berlin, while Bremen hosts Paderborn in its next Bundesliga outing.