Nwaneri helps Dortmund complete comeback on Bundesliga debut

Ethan Nwaneri’s shot took a huge deflection and turned into the goal that completed Borussia Dortmund’s comeback against Hoffenheim. The Arsenal loanee helped his new team recover from two goals down for a 3-2 Bundesliga victory.

Hoffenheim controlled much of the opening hour and led 2-0 after goals from Leon Avdullahu and Tim Lemperle. Nwaneri, the youngest player in Premier League history, entered after 30 minutes when Filippo Mane suffered an injury.

Serhou Guirassy gave Dortmund hope shortly after the hour mark, then set up Fabio Silva five minutes later. With four minutes of normal time remaining, Nwaneri cut in from the left and shot toward the center. The effort struck Hoffenheim defender Albian Hajdari and flew into the net.

Elsewhere, promoted Elversberg continued its remarkable top-flight start with a 4-3 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach. Gladbach twice took the lead and moved 3-1 ahead midway through the second half, but Elversberg fought back after manager Vincent Wagner received a second yellow card just before halftime. Felix Keidel equalized with 10 minutes remaining, and Maurice Krattenmacher scored the stoppage-time winner, his second goal of the match.

Elversberg, a club from a town of just 13,000 people, has won both matches since reaching Germany’s top division. It opened the season with a surprise 3-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, who responded by beating Union Berlin 4-0. Equi Fernandez and Facundo Medina put Leverkusen 2-0 ahead by halftime, Jarell Quansah set up Patrik Schick for the third, and Ibrahim Maza completed the scoring.

Niclas Fuellkrug scored his second goal in three games since returning to Germany as Werder Bremen beat RB Leipzig 3-1. Freiburg also preserved its perfect start with a 1-0 away win over promoted Paderborn. Defending champion Bayern Munich was scheduled to face promoted Schalke later Saturday.