A frantic start to the game set the tone for an end-to-end first half, and the hosts almost got off to the perfect start on five minutes. A deep cross was met on the volley by Tim Lemperle, and he was unlucky to see the ball smack the face of the bar with Gregor Kobel well beaten.
Despite many promising openings throughout the half, the visitors struggled to create clear-cut chances, but did come close when Daniel Svensson’s header drifted just over the bar.
With the game seemingly headed towards a deadlock at half-time, Hoffenheim were awarded a penalty shortly before the interval after a freak incident involving Niklas Sule.
The Dortmund defender looked to have blocked a shot whilst falling to the ground, but to add insult to injury, as he received medical attention, a VAR review ruled he had used his hand, and a penalty was awarded.
Despite the lengthy wait to take the spot-kick, Kramaric kept his cool to tuck the ball past the despairing dive of Kobel to send the home side into the break ahead.
As the second half progressed, the visitors started to pin Hoffenheim deeper in their own half, but clear-cut chances remained at a premium, resulting in Niko Kovac throwing top-scorer Serhou Guirassy into the fray despite pre-match injury concerns.
Despite the attacking changes, the expected onslaught from Dortmund failed to materialise, with the home side defending stoutly and managing the game wisely.
However, just when it looked like the points were secure, Guirassy produced a moment of magic from nothing, turning and smashing a pinpoint drive past Oliver Baumann from the edge of the area.
The drama wasn’t done yet, however, as a VAR review adjudged that Julian Ryerson was guilty of handball inside the area, giving the hosts the chance to snatch victory from the spot.
The ever-reliable Kramaric held his nerve to dispatch the spot-kick into the same corner deep into stoppage time and secure victory.
A first win at home to Dortmund since December 2019 (L5) moves Die Kraichgauer to within two points of the top four, having played a game more than the two sides above them, while Dortmund’s downfall gives Bayern Munich the chance to win the Bundesliga tomorrow.