Marcel Sabitzer's stoppage-time free-kick saw Borussia Dortmund fend off Werder Bremen 3-2 in the DFB-Pokal.
Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Werder Bremen: Sabitzer strikes late to seal DFB-Pokal progress
Niclas Fullkrug scored twice against his old club, but Borussia Dortmund managed to get the job done in a tight DFB-Pokal tie.
Werder had come from 2-0 down to restore parity thanks to a quickfire double from former Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug.
But Sabitzer cropped up with a winner in the 93rd minute, sending Niko Kovac's team into the last 16.
Kick-off was delayed at Signa Iduna Park, where Serhou Guirassy put Dortmund ahead inside six minutes once play got under way.
Julian Ryerson set up Guirassy at the end of a slick move, and the striker duly converted from close range.
Maximilian Beier had a goal disallowed for offside, but Carney Chukwuemeka netted a second for BVB in the 17th minute, finishing from Jobe Bellingham's knockdown.
Yet Werder flipped the script after the break thanks to substitute Fullkrug.
He had only been on the pitch six minutes when he converted from the penalty spot after Mick Schmetgens had been fouled.
Fullkrug doubled up three minutes later, brilliantly nutmegging Waldemar Anton before slamming in an equaliser.
There was to be one last twist, though, as Sabitzer bent in a free-kick from the edge of the box to seal BVB's progress.
Fullkrug surpasses Bayern stars as Sabitzer snaps Dortmund's free-kick drought
Against his old club, Fullkrug was on fire.
He has now netted 11 goals in all competitions this season, which makes him the highest-scoring Bundesliga player in 2026-27, overtaking Michael Olise and Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane (10 each).
Fullkrug has now netted in seven successive matches, equalling the Werder record in the Bundesliga era (Rudi Voller between November 1982 and March 1983).
This was only Fullkrug's second brace in a DFB-Pokal tie. His first came way back in August 2017, for Hannover against Bonner SC.
However, Sabitzer had the final say.
The winner was his first goal since he netted against Werder in January, but it also marked BVB's first direct free-kick goal since November 2024, when Julian Brandt scored against Freiburg.
While Dortmund can celebrate their dramatic win, Kovac will be far from happy with how his team controlled the game when 2-0 up.
Perhaps it was a case of too much, too soon: This was the earliest BVB had taken a two-goal lead in a cup match since February 2021.
