Overview

• In stoppage time, 21-year-old Kelsey Owusu arrived late with studs high near Yan Couto’s knee, and the Dortmund player left on a stretcher.
• Niko Kovac initially called the challenge “an attack” before urging de-escalation in his press conference, while sporting director Sebastian Kehl described it as a clear red.
• The decision would likely have been upgraded to red by Bundesliga video review, according to post-match assessments.
• Rot-Weiss Essen temporarily disabled Instagram comments after heavy, partly racist abuse aimed at Owusu, and coach Uwe Koschinat condemned the messages.
• Owusu apologized to Couto in Dortmund’s locker room, and Kehl said the club may add reinforcements with multiple defenders already out.