Nwaneri helps Dortmund to comeback win on Bundesliga debut

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Dortmund’s players celebrate after Hoffenheim scored an own goal to mark the 2-3 during the German first division Bundesliga football match between TSG Hoffenheim and BVB Borussia Dortmund in Sinsheim, south-western Germany on September 5, 2026. (Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO

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Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri provoked a late own goal as Borussia Dortmund come from two down to win 3-2 at Hoffenheim in a topsy-turvy Bundesliga clash on Saturday.

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Hoffenheim were the better team for the opening hour but lost their way as Dortmund clicked into gear and romped to victory with three goals in the final 30 minutes.

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Hoffenheim were two up with 54 minutes played thanks to goals from Leon Avdullahu and Tim Lemperle.

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Nwaneri, the youngest player in Premier League history, arrived on a season-long loan from Arsenal on deadline day and came on with half an hour played after an injury for Filippo Mane.

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Striker Serhou Guirassy gave the hosts hope when he scored just after the hour mark and then set up Fabio Silva five minutes later.

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With just four minutes of regular time remaining, Nwaneri cut down the left and shot centrally, but his effort took a big deflection off home defender Albian Hajdari and into the goal.

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Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg continued their excellent top-flight arrival with a 4-3 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach, making it two wins from two this season.

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Gladbach took the lead twice and were 3-1 up midway through the second-half, but Elversberg fought back despite losing manager Vincent Wagner to a second yellow card just before the break.

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With 10 minutes left, Felix Keidel levelled the scores at 3-3 and Maurice Krattenmacher put the visitors in front in stoppage time with his second goal of the match.

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Elversberg, with a population of just 13,000, are the smallest town ever to have a German top-flight side but opened the season with a shock 3-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen last week.

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Leverkusen rebounded from that disappointment by putting sorry Union Berlin to the sword in a 4-0 home victory.

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Argentina internationals Equi Fernandez and Facundo Medina had Leverkusen 2-0 up at half-time.

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England centre-back Jarell Quansah set up Patrik Schick for Leverkusen’s third before Ibrahim Maza added a stylish fourth late on.

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Elsewhere, West Ham loanee Niclas Fuellkrug scored his second goal in three games since returning to Germany to help Werder Bremen win at home 3-1 against RB Leipzig.

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The Germany striker scored a long-range header, with Eren Dinkci and Marco Gruell also getting on the scoresheet.

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Europa League finalists Freiburg continued their perfect start to the season with a solid 1-0 win away at promoted Paderborn.

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Defending champions Bayern Munich face promoted Schalke later on Saturday.

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AFP

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