'Hoffenheim are very annoyed' - Dortmund coach reacts to incident involving Chelsea loanee Chukwuemeka

Borussia Dortmund manager Nico Kovac has weighed in on the late-game controversy that marred his side’s dramatic 3-2 win over Hoffenheim on Saturday afternoon, insisting that the referee made the right call in awarding the winning goal.

With the score level at 2-2 deep into stoppage time, Dortmund midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka went down in the box after a coming together with Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.

Serhou Guirassy played the ball into the path of Chukwuemeka, but after Baumann closed it down, he pounced on the loose ball and laid it off to his right for Waldemar Anton , who fired home to make it 3-2.

Speaking after the match, Kovac acknowledged the tension surrounding the decision but stood by the referee's call.

"I of course know that Hoffenheim are very annoyed about that," Kovac was quoted as saying by Hoffenheim's official website. 

"It's a very close incident. If Oli Baumann is first to the ball, it's a foul."

"But Chukwuemeka got to the ball a tad earlier, so I think it's within the rules."

Chukwuemeka, who joined Dortmund on loan from Chelsea in January, continues to impress with his mature displays in midfield.

The 21-year-old has registered one goal in eight Bundesliga appearances and has been instrumental in Dortmund’s recent run of form.

His emergence has also caught the attention of international selectors. Eric Chelle, manager of the Nigerian national team, is reportedly keen on convincing Chukwuemeka to switch allegiance ahead of the resumption of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. 

Despite representing England at various youth levels, Chukwuemeka remains eligible for Nigeria as he has not yet featured for the Three Lions’ senior side.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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