bundesliga

Niclas Füllkrug helps Borussia Dortmund stay unbeaten with comeback win over Union Berlin

09.10.2023

Niclas Füllkrug scored for the second week in a row as Borussia Dortmund came from behind to beat Union Berlin and extend their unbeaten start to seven Bundesliga matches.

Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Union Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Füllkrug 8', 1-1 Gosens 9' (assist: Trimmel), 1-2 Bonucci 31' (pen.), 2-2 Schlotterbeck 49' (assist: Nmecha), 3-2 Brandt 53' (assist: Reus), 4-2 Ryerson 71' (assist: Reyna)

Union made a bold start, at odds with their six-match losing run in all competitions. Robin Gosens pinged a shot wide, while Kevin Behrens - fresh from receiving his first Germany call-up - spun Mats Hummels on the edge of the Dortmund area and struck the crossbar. It was BVB who forged ahead, though, with Füllkrug shovelling home from close range after his initial effort from a Marco Reus corner had been saved. A Union corner proved Dortmund's undoing moments later as Gosens headed in Christopher Trimmel's delivery, via the unwitting Füllkrug. Alex Král powered in a Trimmel free-kick midway through the half, only for it to be ruled out following a lengthy VAR review. The VAR then intervened to deny Füllkrug his second afternoon, last season's joint-top scorer adjudged to be offside when he glanced in a Reus free-kick. VAR was involved in the last meaningful event of the first half, with Hummels penalised for a dangerous challenge on Sheraldo Becker in the box. Leonardo Bonucci sent Gregor Kobel the wrong way from the penalty spot to give Union the lead.

Edin Terzić introduced Julian Brandt in place of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens at the start of the second half. The move paid off as Dortmund scored twice in four minutes to swing the game back in their favour. Nico Schlotterbeck found the top corner from 20 yards to level, before Brandt started and finished a swift counter-attack led by the ever-wily Reus for 3-2. Substitute Brenden Aaronson volleyed over from 10 yards as Union chased an equaliser, but their hopes were dashed in the 71st minute when former player Julian Ryerson swept in his second goal in as many league games via a deflection. Gregor Kobel had to be alert to beat away an effort from David Fofana, while Sébastien Haller had a late goal chalked off for handball as Dortmund celebrated a fourth straight win at the expense of a fifth consecutive Union defeat.

Match stats

Füllkrug scored his first goal for Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park.
Dortmund are unbeaten in 15 Bundesliga matches dating back to a 4-2 defeat to Bayern on 1 April. It's their only loss in 26 league games this calendar year (W19, D6).
BVB have won all seven of their home meetings against Union, including five in the Bundesliga.
Union have suffered five straight Bundesliga games for the first time. They have lost seven in all competitions - their worst run for 19 years.
Aged 36 years, five months and five days, Bonucci is the oldest Italian goalscorer in Bundesliga history.
Hummels picked up his 207th Bundesliga win as a Dortmund player - a new club record.

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Watch: Füllkrug: "We were mentally strong"

Teams

Dortmund: Kobel - Ryerson, Schlotterbeck, Hummels (Süle 73'), Wolf - Can (c), Nmecha - Malen (Reyna 64'), Reus (Özcan 83'), Bynoe-Gittens (Brandt 46') - Füllkrug (Haller 83')
Unused subs: Meyer, Moukoko, Adeyemi, Bueno
Out: Bensebaini (suspended), Meunier (rehabilitation), Sabitzer (groin), Duranville (thigh), Morey (knee)
Coach: Edin Terzić

Union: Rønnow - Trimmel (Roussillon 68'), Doekhi, Bonucci, Leite, Gosens - Král (Tousart 20'), Laïdouni (Aaronson 55'), Haberer - Behrens (Volland 68'), Becker (c) (Fofana 68')
Unused subs: Schwolow, Jaeckel, Kemlein, Hollerbach
Out: Khedira (calf), Knoche (ankle), Schäfer (knee), Dehl (achilles)
Coach: Urs Fischer