Fortuna Düsseldorf 0-1 Borussia Dortmund: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Schwarzgelben Steal Last-Minute Victory

Erling Haaland scored a 95th minute winner to keep the title race technically alive on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund beating Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-0 at the Merkur Spielarena.

Dortmund were frustrated for much of the game, their best chance inside the 90m minutes coming when Haaland – on as a second-half substitute – saw his blocked shot fall to Raphaël Guerreiro, who hit his volley sweetly into the back of the net to finally earn the breakthrough for the Schwarzgelben.

While Dortmund thought they were ahead, the Video Assistant Referee said otherwise. After a lengthy check, VAR ruled Guerreiro's goal out for handball, deeming that the ball had hit his hand in the buildup to his goal.

Fortuna came within inches of snatching the win late on when substitute Steven Skrzybski's shot smacked off the post, and he had another golden chance to steal all three points when he broke away late on, smashing his shot into the side netting as time wound down.

With just seconds left in stoppage time and Dortmund heading for a costly draw, they snatched the win thanks to Haaland. The Norwegian headed home Manuel Akanji's excellent cross in style, stealing a dramatic late win in incredible fashion to close the gap at the top to four points ahead of Bayern's kickoff later in the evening.

Fortuna Düsseldorf

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Kastenmeier (7); Ayhan (6), Hoffmann (7*), Suttner (6); Zimmermann (6), Stöger (6), Sobottka (7), Berisha (6), Gießelmann (6); Karaman (6), Thommy (6).

Substitutes: Skrzybski (5), Hennings (N/A), Morales (N/A), Zimmer (N/A).

André Hoffmann

It was a solid defensive performance from Düsseldorf despite the late heartbreak, and André Hoffmann was right at the heart of it. He kept the back three together and in shape, and his outstanding tackle on Brandt in the first half was played to perfection in a superb display at the back.

Borussia Dortmund

Key Talking Point

Following a crucial yet lacklustre win over Hertha Berlin last weekend, Borussia Dortmund had to extend their winning streak to keep the Bundesliga title race just about alive. They should've broken the deadlock with some excellent chances in front of goal, but went a fourth consecutive game without a first-half goal – something which could have come back to bite them.

Dortmund's first-half performance was once again underwhelming, though they did have spurts of energy when they were on the break. Hakimi and Brandt should've put the visitors ahead, and would have done exactly that where it not for some resolute Düsseldorf defending to keep things goalless going into the break.

Haaland's introduction after the break looked to be exactly what BVB needed, soon followed by Guerreiro's beautiful goal. He may count himself unlucky to have had his strike ruled out by VAR, but Dortmund shouldn't have been in a position where that decision could damn them. It took a stroke of thrilling luck to secure all three points, scoring the winner in the last minute of stoppage time.

The race for the Meisterschaft is just about still alive – but Bayern can go seven points clear again with three games to play and wrap up the title next Tuesday.

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Bürki (6); Piszczek (7), Hummels (6), Akanji (6); Hakimi (6), Can (7), Witsel (6), Guerreiro (6); Sancho (7), Brandt (6), Hazard (6).

Substitutes: Haaland (7*), Reyna (5).

Erling Haaland

Where would Borussia Dortmund be without Erling Haaland? The Norwegian marksman came on as a second-half substitute, and when all hope seemed lost, he headed home the winner in remarkable fashion. He made an impact and did exactly what he came onto today, making it 11 Bundesliga goals in 12 games following a short stint out injured.

Looking Ahead

Both sides are back in action next Wednesday, as the German top flight prepares for another midweek matchday. Düsseldorf face stern opposition when they travel to top-four challengers RB Leipzig, before their last home game of the season against Augsburg on Saturday.

Borussia Dortmund are back home at the Signal Iduna Park in midweek, hosting relegation battlers Mainz in North Rhine-Westphalia. BVB then make the same trip as Düsseldorf to the Red Bull Arena, meeting Julian Nagelsmann's RB Leipzig on Saturday in a game which could decide second place in the league.

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