Dortmund's last-minute win against Cologne: Beier becomes a hero!

Dortmund's last-minute win against Cologne: Beier becomes a hero!

An exciting evening game in the Bundesliga saw Borussia Dortmund win against 1. FC Köln. In a hard-fought match in Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park atmosphere, BVB prevailed 1-0 on October 26, 2025, with Maximilian Beier scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time. It was a game full of drama and the final minutes kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The game started promisingly for Cologne in the first half, although Dortmund had the reins on offense. Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe showed with several brilliant saves that his team had good hopes. However, the guests were very unlucky in finishing and were unable to take advantage of their chances. Defense chief Timo Hübers, who is known for his stability, had to be carried off the field injured in the 82nd minute. Coach Lukas Kwasniok expressed concern about the situation and predicted possible months of downtime for Hübers. The loss presented Cologne's defense with an enormous challenge, especially since the substitution contingent was exhausted and Cologne ended the game outnumbered.

Performance evaluation of Dortmund

In the individual criticism of Dortmund's performance, several players should be highlighted. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel kept what he had to keep, but was rarely tested and received a grade of 3.5. Next to him, Waldemar Anton had a solid performance with a grade of 3.0, while Nico Schlotterbeck received a 3.5 with her weaker ball control.

Particularly noticeable, however, was Julian Ryerson, who played on the right wing and demonstrated his dangerousness with his grade of 2.5. Pascal Groß, who prepared a great chance, was given a 4.0, while Felix Nmecha, who was inaccurate at the start of the game, was subsequently able to improve his performance and received a 3.0.

Karim Adeyemi played a more active role in the first half, but with 3.0 he didn't get the recognition he probably deserved. Apparently, Carney Chukwuemeka, who was in the starting lineup, had less fortune and was rated 4.5. Serhou Guirassy was also unable to score - despite several chances - and also received a 4.5. Maximilian Beier, who was able to intervene as a decisive player during the game, was left unrated when he came on in the 68th minute.

Cologne's challenge and Dortmund's strategies

Cologne managed to repeatedly put Dortmund under pressure through clever counterattacks. But the hosts' defense was solid enough to fend off the visitors' sometimes dangerous attacks. “It was a difficult game for us,” said Dortmund’s coach, who was aware of his team’s vulnerability but still didn’t want to lose sight of the assault on the top of the table. With this win, however, Dortmund remains behind league leaders Bayern Munich, who are currently seven points ahead.

All in all, it was a hard-fought game and the fans of both teams showed great commitment. While Dortmund celebrated the victory, Cologne is left with many question marks. Hübers' injury will put a lot of strain on the club in the coming weeks, but there is still hope for a quick recovery.