Dortmund salvages a point in wild Frankfurt finale
Borussia Dortmund twice squandered a one-goal lead but struck deep in stoppage-time through Carney Chukwuemeka to rescue a 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt as the Bundesliga resumed after its winter break.
While heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures in other parts of the country forced the postponement of matches, Frankfurt and Dortmund provided quick-paced entertainment and late drama on a cold but snow-free evening.
Chukwuemeka's goal came minutes after Frankfurt had gone 3-2 up through Mo Dahoud, also in stoppage-time.
Dortmund's Maximilian Beier completed a quick break, tapping in Julian Ryerson's low cross for a 10th-minute lead with the visitors having enjoyed a strong start.
The hosts fought their way back into the game and levelled with a 22nd-minute penalty from Can Uzun, awarded for a clumsy challenge by Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy in the box.
It was a similar story after the break with Dortmund taking control once more and going back in front in the 68th with Felix Nmecha's deflected low shot that went in off the post.
However, it only lasted for three minutes after Frankfurt caught the Dortmund defence napping and Younes Ebnoutalib slipped through to level with a powerful finish.
Dortmund piled on late pressure and Nico Schlotterbeck rattled the crossbar before Dahoud fired Frankfurt into the lead in stoppage-time.
Dortmund, however, still had time to bag the equaliser through Chukwuemeka to rescue a point.
Dortmund is in second place on 33 points, with current leader Bayern Munich, on 41 points, set to face Wolfsburg on Monday (AEDT).
Borussia Dortmund captain Schlotterbeck insisted the draw was not down to Guirassy’s mistake in the first half.
“That's happened to me a few times in my career and probably a hundred times in training,” he said.
“He simply didn't see the opponent; it happens and it's not a big deal. Serhou will sort it out, he'll score again next time, and then everything will be fine.”
On the match itself, Schlotterbeck said: “After the 93rd minute, we’re satisfied with the result because we still managed to score the equaliser.
“Basically, we played a good game, were actually better than Frankfurt, but conceded three goals, which is simply too many to win away.
“Unfortunately, after making it 2-1, we conceded the 2-2 too quickly; otherwise, things would have gone our way. So you have to take the point – but of course, we wanted to start with three.”
