Goals from Erling Haaland and Gio Reyna could not prevent Borussia Dortmund from going out of the DFB Cup at the hands of Werder Bremen in a five-goal thriller at the Weser Stadion.
Bremen were in need of a confidence booster and that is precisely what they were given by Davie Selke, who marked his first home game back in a Bremen shirt with a goal. Milot Rashica‘s shot was spilled by Marwin Hitz to the feet of Bremen’s returning son, who rifled in from close range. Dortmund were shaken and Bremen went for the jugular, doubling their lead through Leonardo Bittencourt with a goal he will not forget in a rush. Dortmund cleared a corner to what seemed to be a safe distance, but Bittencourt made the sweetest of contacts with an unstoppable volley which arrowed past Hitz into the top corner, giving the hosts a surprise, but deserved 2-0 lead at the break.
Haaland was a logical introduction by Dortmund coach Lucien Favre at the start of the second half, and no sooner had he entered the fray and he was celebrating bringing Dortmund back into the game, turning Julian Brandt‘s cross in from close range. Bremen responded well and restored their two-goal lead through Rashica, who beat the offside trap and rifled a shot across Hitz. Reyna was sent on as Dortmund threw caution to the wind and just like with Haaland, the move paid dividends. The USMNT international even had some of the home fans applauding an outstanding moment of skill which culminated in a curling effort into the top right-hand corner. Dortmund had chances to level, notably through Jadon Sancho and even Hitz – up for a late corner – but Bremen survived a late onslaught to take their place in the quarter-finals.
