Do Borussia Dortmund Have a Goalkeeper Problem After Costly Roman Burki Howler?

After Borussia Dortmund conceded two goals in the final eight minutes plus stoppage time of 2015 and thus lost 2-1 at struggling Cologne on Saturday, one thought crossed the minds of the millions of fans of the Black and Yellows, and ESPN FC's Stefan Buczko wrote that thought down: "The winter break came nine minutes too late."

That holds true for the entire team, of course, but in particular for one man: Roman Burki. Dortmund's goalkeeper had done brilliantly until the 82nd minute, with two outstanding saves helping his side keep a lead despite the fact the hosts were clearly the better team on the day. 

"

Take your pre-game save % stats and shove them. If BVB hold on, Bürki is a huge reason we've managed it.

— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) December 19, 2015"

Had the game against Cologne ended nine minutes earlier, Burki would have been the hero and would've silenced much of the chatter about him. It would've been his second clean sheet in a row after a win over FC Augsburg in the DFB-Pokal, something Dortmund haven't achieved since starting the season with four on the spin.

In the 82nd minute, however, he undid his work with one costly mistake—although much of the blame has to go to the wobbly pitch. The pitch conditions were so bad head coach Thomas Tuchel said after the game his heart skipped a beat whenever his team played a pass to the 'keeper, per magazine Kicker. 

But one struggles to grant the 25-year-old absolution because of the playing conditions—he had more than enough time to become acquainted with the pitch and could have punted the ball away safely. He didn't and rather tried to play the ball to Julian Weigl.

The young midfielder would've been under immediate pressure, so the decision was questionable to begin with, but that became a moot point because of a wobble that gifted Simon Zoller a free run on goal.

"

Zoller scores. Bürki kept us in the lead and then gives it away moments later.

— BVB UK (@DortmundUK) December 19, 2015"

"Sometimes it's tough for goalkeepers that their mistakes are punished more cruelly than errors from outfield players," noted Buczko. While that's true, Burki can't expect a lot of sympathy. It wasn't his first costly mistake this season. In fact, the Switzerland international has made one in each of Dortmund's three losses in the Bundesliga.

Against Bayern Munich in October, he was late to react to long balls twice, with both situations leading to goals. Against Hamburger SV in November, he gave away a penalty needlessly when the attacker took a bad touch that led him away from goal.

CHRISTOF STACHE/Getty Images

Saturday didn't mark the first game he has made a howler with his feet, either. In the 7-1 rout of SC Paderborn in the cup toward the end of October, he tried to dribble in his own box, lost the ball and looked like a fool.

That's not to say Burki has been bad for Dortmund during the first half of the season. He made a number of spectacular saves that helped his team hold onto points, most notably against FSV Mainz and in the Revierderby against local rivals Schalke.

But those glimpses of the player fans of the Black and Yellows saw excel for SC Freiburg last season only make his wildly inconsistent play all the more frustrating.

Since it's unlikely Dortmund will look to sign a 'keeper in the January transfer window—Tuchel said he was content with his goalkeepers, per local paper Ruhr Nachrichten on Twitter (in German)—Burki has the second half of the season to convince club and fans he can be the long-term No. 1.

His competition for that role this season, Roman Weidenfeller, only plays in the UEFA Europa League, in which he hasn't done anything to suggest he'd be a better choice than Burki.

The 35-year-old's contract expires at the succession of the season, and it's widely expected Dortmund will bring a new 'keeper in for next season. Burki's performances until then will decide what kind of investment his club will make: Will they be searching for a back-up or a potential No. 1?

Lars Pollmann is a featured columnist writing on Borussia Dortmund. He also writes for Yellowwallpod.com. You can follow him on Twitter.