Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri played a key part in Borussia Dortmund’s dramatic 3-2 comeback against Hoffenheim, who surrendered a two-goal lead after a remarkable late surge from the visitors.
Hoffenheim looked on course for victory for much of Saturday’s Bundesliga meeting after Leon Avdullahu and Tim Lemperle put them firmly in control.
But Dortmund changed the momentum after the hour mark, with Serhou Guirassy pulling one goal back before creating the chance for Fabio Silva to level the contest.
Nwaneri, who became the youngest player in Premier League history while at Arsenal, had been introduced after only 30 minutes when Filippo Mane was forced off with an injury.
The 18-year-old made his biggest contribution four minutes before the end of normal time. Nwaneri drove forward down the left, moved inside and struck towards goal, with his effort taking a major deflection off Hoffenheim defender Albian Hajdari before finding the net.
That completed Dortmund’s three-goal recovery and secured a 3-2 victory in a match Hoffenheim had appeared to have under control.
Elversberg maintain remarkable start
Newly promoted Elversberg also produced a dramatic comeback to preserve their perfect start to life in the Bundesliga, winning 4-3 away at Borussia Monchengladbach.
Gladbach twice moved in front and later established a 3-1 advantage midway through the second half. Elversberg responded despite head coach Vincent Wagner being sent off for a second yellow card shortly before half-time, leaving the visitors without their manager in the technical area.
Felix Keidel equalised with 10 minutes remaining before Maurice Krattenmacher completed the turnaround in stoppage time with his second goal of the game.
The result means Elversberg have won both of their opening Bundesliga fixtures.
The club come from a town with a population of about 13,000, making them the smallest community ever to have a team in Germany’s top flight. Their campaign began with another surprise result last week, when they defeated reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen 3-2.
Leverkusen responded to that defeat in emphatic fashion by beating Union Berlin 4-0 at home.
Argentina internationals Equi Fernandez and Facundo Medina scored in the first half to give Leverkusen control. England defender Jarell Quansah then set up Patrik Schick for the third goal, while Ibrahim Maza completed the victory with a stylish late finish.
Elsewhere, Niclas Fuellkrug continued his impressive return to German football by scoring for the second time in three matches as Werder Bremen defeated RB Leipzig 3-1.
The West Ham loanee headed home from long range, while Eren Dinkci and Marco Grull were also on target for Bremen.
Europa League finalists Freiburg maintained their perfect start to the season with a narrow 1-0 away victory against promoted Paderborn.
Defending champions Bayern Munich were due to play another newly promoted team, Schalke, later on Saturday.