4-3 from 0-3! Ex-BVB talent shines in stunning comeback | OneFootball

A former Dortmund youth player turns a seemingly completely lost game around as a substitute, becoming the decisive factor for his national team.

Jordi Paulina pulled off an incredible comeback with Curaçao and personally helped secure the win. On Friday, September 25, Curaçao played its opening match of this year’s CONCACAF Nations League – the equivalent of the European Nations League. Against Germany’s World Cup group-stage opponent from the last World Cup, a heavy defeat seemed likely for a long time before the former BVB player turned the game around.

Costa Rica took the lead as early as the third minute. Just 20 minutes later, the score was already 2–0, and in first-half stoppage time the Costa Ricans made it 3–0. Then the coach brought Jordi Paulina on in the 58th minute – and with him came renewed belief in a comeback. Just four minutes after coming on, the Fortuna Düsseldorf striker set up the goal that made it 3–1. In the 66th minute, he then assisted the 3–2. Paulina was not directly involved in the equalizer for 3–3 in the 78th minute, but in the 82nd minute he personally delivered the final decisive moment: with his goal for 4–3, he rewarded himself for his strong performance and fired Curaçao to victory.

Ex-BVB talent Jordi Paulina only on the bench at Fortuna Düsseldorf

Jordi Paulina has recently been going through a difficult spell in sporting terms. He played for Borussia Dortmund for two years before moving to Fortuna Düsseldorf in January this year. He made just one appearance for the BVB first team, without contributing to a goal. In the club’s U23 side, however, he saw significantly more playing time: in 40 appearances, he scored 12 goals and provided four more assists. Those performances also put him on the radar of the then-second-division club. At Fortuna Düsseldorf, however, things have not gone as hoped so far. Last season in the 2. Bundesliga, he made only eight appearances and played just 183 minutes. He also stayed with Fortuna through their drop into the 3. Liga, but has mostly remained on the sidelines there as well: in the new season, he has only played in two of a possible seven league matches, totaling just 90 minutes.

Photo: IMAGO

The sporting slump also had consequences for Jordi Paulina at international level: he temporarily even lost his regular place and was therefore left out of the World Cup squad. At Fortuna Düsseldorf, he is still under a long-term contract until the summer of 2030. His performance against Costa Rica should now give him renewed confidence – also with a view to earning more playing time at Fortuna Düsseldorf.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.