Borussia Dortmund squandered the lead late on to draw 2-2 with a plucky Darmstadt on Sunday night.
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Marcel Heller volleyed Darmstadt in front in the 17th minute, providing an excellent finish to a finely-worked counter-attack for the promoted side, who displayed no signs of fear in front of more than 80,000 fans at the Westfalenstadion.
Marcel Schmelzer missed a handful of opportunities with Marco Reus also turning an effort over as Dortmund tried to get back on terms before the break.
They had to wait until the 63rd minute to succeed with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang keeping up his record of having scored in each of Dortmund’s Bundesliga games this season by bringing the Westphalians level from close range.
#Gabon‘s @Aubameyang7 sets a new Bundesliga record having now scored in all 7 of Dortmund’s opening league games of the campaign. #BuLiTimes
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) September 27, 2015
He struck again eight minutes later from Adnan Januzaj’s pass to put Dortmund in front, but Aytac Sulu silenced the home fans with a last-minute equaliser.
And Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel believes that unnecessary turnovers cost his side the win. The 42-year-old felt his team were robbed by the late goal, but also admitted they didn’t show the requisite composure to see out the game.
“We deserved to win this game. In the final minutes we had unnecessary turnovers,” the Dortmund boss said. “Our two goals were outstanding. I was impressed with the tempo in the second half.
“The fact we have been punished in this way leaves a bitter taste. We are very disappointed. It feels like we lost two points.”
Dortmund were frustrated for long period by Darmstadt’s resilient, deep defending and the coach refuted suggestions that they struggled to break down the minnows.
“We have played against lesser opponents several times and scored 21 goals, so we find solutions,” Tuchel added.
The result leaves Tuchel’s men four points adrift of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, who they visit this coming Sunday. And Mats Hummels has lauded his former team-mate Robert Lewandowski ahead of the clash.
“I had an incredulous smile on my face when Lewy [Lewandowski] scored his five goals, since I don’t see the shirt or the club for which he plays, just an exceptional striker,” Hummels said. “You can enjoy his goals, even as part of BVB. He is a complete machine.”
