Late drama as Jacob Bruun Larsen denies Borussia Dortmund victory
Jacob Bruun Larsen scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim shared the spoils in an exciting 1-1 draw at Signal Iduna Park.
Dortmund, looking to recover from recent setbacks, faced a Hoffenheim side who had made a bold tactical moveby handing a first Bundesliga start to 18-year-old Max Moerstedt, while Dortmund's Nuri Şahin opted for experience in his lineup.
Evenly-contested first half: Max Moerstedt (l.) has his shot blocked by Ramy Bensebaini (r.) as Hoffenheim registered another attempt on goal. - IMAGO/Kirchner/David Inderlied
The first half saw Hoffenheim start brightly, putting pressure on the Dortmund defence and creating several chances. Moerstedt looked lively, testing the hosts' backline with his movement and pace. In the eighth minute, the young striker showcased his potential with a sharp snapshot that narrowly missed the target. The hosts gradually grew into the game, with Jamie Gittens causing problems for the Hoffenheim defence.
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The second half started with a bang as Giovanni Reyna broke the deadlock for Dortmund just seconds after the restart. The American midfielder capitalised on a defensive error by Stanley Nsoki, unleashing a powerful shot that gave Oliver Baumann no chance. Reyna's goal, energised the home side, who began to dominate possession and create more chances. Karim Adeyemi, introduced at half-time for Maximilian Beier, added a new dimension to Die Schwarzgelben's attack with his pace and direct running.
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As the match wore on, Hoffenheim began to push for an equaliser. Ilzer made several attacking substitutions, including bringing on former Dortmund player Bruun Larsen. The change proved inspired as, in the first minute of stoppage time, the Dane popped up to score a dramatic equaliser. The Danish winger, who had been overlooked in favour of young Moerstedt in the starting line-up, showed his class by finishing off a well-worked move to silence the crowd at Signal Iduna Park. Haris Tabaković provided the assist, demonstrating the impact of Hoffenheim's substitutions.
Jacob Bruun Larsen celebrates his crucial equaliser with teammate Alexander Prass - IMAGO/Maximilian Koch
Bruun Larsen proved to be the hero for Hoffenheim, coming off the bench to score a crucial equaliser against his former club. The Danish winger's impact was immediate, providing a spark to Hoffenheim's attack in the closing stages. His well-taken goal in stoppage time not only secured a valuable point for his team but also showcased his ability to perform under pressure. Bruun Larsen's performance was a testament to his professionalism and quality, stepping up when his team needed him most despite starting on the bench.
Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Hoffenheim 1.18 - Dortmund 0.52Fastest player: Jamie Gittens (BVB), 33.29 km/hLowest goal probability: 1-0 by Giovanni Reyna (BVB), 7 percentMost pressed player: Adam Hložek (TSG), 21 times under pressurePass efficiency: Andrej Kramarić (TSG), +2.49
Fantasy Heroes: Yan Couto (Dortmund, 175 Points), Ramy Bensebaini (Dortmund, 173 Points), Alexander Prass (Hoffenheim, 215 Points)
