Philip Otele marked a memorable milestone by scoring his first goal for Hamburger SV, but it ended in disappointment as they suffered a dramatic defeat away to Borussia Dortmund.
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The newly invited Super Eagles forward gave his side a dream start in the 19th minute, finishing off a well-worked move assisted by William Mikelbrencis.
It was a confident strike that put Hamburg ahead and underlined Otele’s attacking threat early in the contest.
Dortmund thought they had found a quick response, but their equaliser was ruled out by VAR ten minutes later, preserving Hamburg’s lead.
The visitors capitalized further before halftime when Fabio Vieira set up Albert Sambi Lokonga, who doubled the advantage in the 38th minute with a composed finish.
The game, however, turned on a series of dramatic moments. Hamburg had a chance to further dent Dortmund’s hopes, but Felix Nmecha missed from the penalty spot in the 45th minute, offering the hosts a lifeline heading into the break.
Dortmund mounted a strong comeback in the second half. After a VAR review awarded them a penalty, Ramy Bensebaini converted in the 73rd minute to reduce the deficit.
Just five minutes later, Serhou Guirassy capitalized on a defensive lapse to make it 2–2, shifting momentum firmly in Dortmund’s favor.
The decisive moment came late in the game when Hamburg conceded another penalty following a handball by Miro Muheim. Bensebaini stepped up again and calmly converted, completing the turnaround and sealing victory for the hosts.
Despite the defeat, Otele’s debut goal remains a major positive for Hamburg, as the Nigerian forward continues to settle into his new environment and stake his claim on the European stage.
