Borussia Dortmund left frustrated by Bayer Leverkusen draw

Josip Stanisic emerged as the hero for Leverkusen on Sunday with a stoppage-time equalizer, extending his team's remarkable unbeaten streak to an impressive 45 matches across all competitions.

The match, however, saw Dortmund's frustration mount as they conceded yet another goal from a set-piece, compounding their recent defensive woes. Coach Edin Terzic lamented his team's lacklustre performance, citing passive play and a failure to maintain tempo as key issues.

"We were far too passive and had far too little tempo in our play," Terzic expressed afterwards. "It feels as though we were closer to victory, but in terms of performance, it was not what we had envisaged."

Sporting director Sebastian Kehl echoed Terzic's sentiments, emphasizing Dortmund's missed opportunity to be the first team to defeat Leverkusen in the league this season. He highlighted the need for improved focus, especially in critical moments of the game.

"We were a bit too passive and didn't exert sufficient pressure," Kehl admitted. "But all in all, we gave away little throughout the entire game. Nonetheless, you also need the necessary focus in the 96th minute."

Forward Niclas Fullkrug shared Kehl's disappointment, believing Dortmund deserved the victory but were undone by a late defensive lapse.

"We were the better team today and deserved to win," Fullkrug asserted. "It's just bitter we didn't win the game. We gifted them a free-kick, and everyone has to stick to their man."

Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel rued the avoidable nature of Leverkusen's equalizer, stressing the importance of securing Champions League qualification for Dortmund.

"It's annoying because it was avoidable," Kobel remarked. "As long as Champions League qualification is not decided, we have to do everything to ensure that we play in the Champions League next year."

Despite the disappointment, Dortmund remain focused on their objective of clinching fourth place in the table and securing their spot in Europe's elite competition for the following season.

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