Borussia Dortmund: How they lost the Bundesliga title in the last minute 😱
Imagine this: you are one win away from becoming the champion of Germany, ending Bayern Munich's 10-year dominance. You have a two-point lead over your rivals, and you are playing at home in front of 81,000 fans. You have even planned a parade to celebrate your triumph. What could possibly go wrong? 🤔
Well, for Borussia Dortmund, everything went wrong on the final day of the 2022-23 Bundesliga season. They blew their chance to lift the Meisterschale by drawing 2-2 with Mainz, while Bayern snatched the title with a dramatic 2-1 win at Köln. It was one of the most heartbreaking endings in soccer history. 😭
The final day drama 🍿
The stage was set for a thrilling finale on May 27, 2023. Dortmund had been leading the Bundesliga table for most of the season, thanks to their prolific attack led by Erling Haaland and Marco Reus. They had scored 98 goals in 33 games, more than any other team in Europe's top five leagues. They had also beaten Bayern twice in the league, including a stunning 5-0 victory at the Allianz Arena in April.
Bayern, on the other hand, had been struggling with injuries and inconsistency under new coach Julian Nagelsmann. They had lost six games in the league, their worst record since 2010-11. They had also been eliminated from the Champions League by Liverpool in the quarter-finals. They were desperate to salvage their season by winning their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title.
The final day fixtures were as follows: Dortmund vs Mainz at Signal Iduna Park, and Köln vs Bayern at RheinEnergieStadion. The scenarios were simple: if Dortmund won, they would be champions regardless of Bayern's result. If Dortmund drew or lost, they would need Bayern to do the same or worse to stay on top. If Bayern won and Dortmund did not, Bayern would be champions on goal difference.
The games kicked off at 3:30 PM local time. Within eight minutes, Bayern took the lead at Köln through Robert Lewandowski's penalty. The Polish striker was chasing his own record of 41 goals in a single Bundesliga season, which he had set in 2020-21. Meanwhile, Dortmund fell behind at home to Mainz after Andreas Hanche-Olsen headed in a corner in the 15th minute.
The situation got worse for Dortmund when they missed a penalty of their own in the 20th minute. Sébastien Haller, who had returned to Dortmund in January after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer, saw his spot-kick saved by Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner. Five minutes later, Mainz doubled their lead through Karim Onisiwo's volley.
At this point, Dortmund were trailing by two goals and Bayern were leading by one. The title was slipping away from them. They needed a miracle to turn things around.
The comeback begins 🔥
Dortmund did not give up hope. They started to play with more urgency and intensity. They created several chances to score, but Zentner was in inspired form. He denied Haaland twice with superb saves.
Finally, in the 40th minute, Dortmund got a lifeline. Haller redeemed himself by scoring from close range after a cross from Giovanni Reyna. The goal gave Dortmund some momentum going into halftime.
In the second half, Dortmund continued to press for an equalizer. They dominated possession and territory, but Mainz defended bravely and dangerously. They also posed a threat on the counter-attack.
In the 63rd minute, Dortmund got their second goal. Haaland showed his class by curling a brilliant shot into the top corner from outside the box. It was his 40th goal of the season in all competitions.
The score was now 2-2 at Dortmund and 1-0 at Köln. Dortmund were still behind on goal difference, but they had hope.
The final twist 😮
The last 30 minutes of both games were nerve-wracking for both sets of fans. Dortmund pushed for a winner, but Mainz held firm. Bayern tried to extend their lead, but Köln fought back.
In the 81st minute, something incredible happened. Köln equalized against Bayern through Anthony Modeste's header from a corner. The stadium erupted with joy as Köln fans celebrated their team's survival from relegation.
As news of Köln's goal reached Dortmund's stadium, the mood changed dramatically. The fans realized that they were now one point ahead of Bayern with nine minutes left. They cheered and hugged each other as they sensed that they were about to witness history.
But their joy was short-lived. Eight minutes later, Bayern scored again through Jamal Musiala's strike from outside the box. The young midfielder had come off the bench to make an impact.
The score was now 2-1 at Köln and 2-2 at Dortmund. Bayern were back on top on goal difference with one minute left.
Dortmund were stunned by this turn of events. They tried to respond with one last effort, but it was too late.
In injury time, there was one more twist. Nicklas Sule scored an own goal for Bayern after a cross from Köln's Florian Kainz.
The score was now 2-2 at Köln and 2-2 at Dortmund.
Dortmund still had a chance to win the title if they could score one more goal.
They threw everything forward in search of a miracle.
But it never came.
The final whistle blew soon after Sule's own goal.
Dortmund had drawn 2-2 with Mainz.
Bayern had drawn 2-2 with Köln.
Bayern were champions on goal difference.
The aftermath 😢
Dortmund's players collapsed on the pitch in disbelief and despair. They had come so close to glory, only to lose it in the last minute.
Their fans were silent and shell-shocked as they watched their rivals celebrate on TV screens.
Borussia Dortmund had lost the Bundesliga title in one of the most dramatic ways possible.
What went wrong for Dortmund? 🤔
Dortmund will have plenty of time to reflect on what went wrong for them on the final day and throughout the season.
Some of the factors that contributed to their failure are:
- Poor start: Dortmund conceded two early goals against Mainz that put them on the back foot from the beginning. They also missed a penalty that could have changed the game.
- Lack of concentration: Dortmund were sloppy and careless at times in defense and attack. They gave away cheap corners that led to Mainz's goals. They also wasted several opportunities to score more goals themselves.
- Lack of luck: Dortmund were unlucky that Zentner had an outstanding game for Mainz and made several saves that kept them at bay. They were also unlucky that Musiala scored a late goal for Bayern that denied them the title.
- Lack of depth: Dortmund suffered from several injuries and suspensions throughout the season that affected their performance. They lost key players such as Mats Hummels, Axel Witsel, Thorgan Hazard, and Jadon Sancho for long periods. They also had to cope with Haller's absence and Haaland's dip in form.
- Lack of experience: Dortmund have a young and talented squad, but they lack the experience and maturity to handle the pressure of a title race. They often crumbled in big games or against lower-ranked teams. They also failed to keep their composure and discipline in crucial moments.
- Lack of balance: Dortmund have a formidable attack, but they have a fragile defense. They conceded 42 goals in 34 games, the most among the top eight teams. They also struggled to control the midfield and protect their backline. They relied too much on individual brilliance rather than collective cohesion.
What can Dortmund learn from this? 📚
Dortmund will be disappointed and frustrated by their near-miss, but they can also use it as a motivation and a lesson for the future.
Some of the things they can learn from this are:
- Be more consistent: Dortmund need to find a way to maintain their high level of performance throughout the season. They need to avoid dropping points against weaker teams and show more character and resilience in difficult situations.
- Be more balanced: Dortmund need to improve their defensive solidity and midfield stability. They need to find a better balance between attack and defense, and between creativity and pragmatism. They need to work on their tactical flexibility and adaptability.
- Be more experienced: Dortmund need to keep their core players and add some experienced leaders to their squad. They need to develop a winning mentality and a strong identity. They need to learn from their mistakes and grow from their failures.
Conclusion 🏁
Borussia Dortmund came agonizingly close to winning the Bundesliga title in 2022-23, but they lost it in the last minute to Bayern Munich. It was a heartbreaking end to a thrilling season that had many twists and turns.
Dortmund showed their quality and potential, but they also showed their flaws and weaknesses. They have many reasons to be proud, but also many areas to improve.
Dortmund have a young and exciting team that can challenge for trophies in the coming years. They have a passionate fan base that supports them through thick and thin. They have a bright future ahead of them.
But they will also have to wait another year for another shot at glory.
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