Borussia Dortmund's U19s became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the German Championship (15-19 May) courtesy of a 4-2 victory against VfL Bochum. Mike Tullberg's lads need only one victory from their remaining five Bundesliga matches in order to seal the West German Championship and a hat-trick of titles.

Between the 25th and 45 minutes of the clash with their neighbours, the team produced a footballing masterclass with quick link-up play and spectacular goals. It remained an open game against a courageous Bochum side in the second period, but BVB also spurned a series of ideal opportunities and were denied several times by the superb reactions of VfL goalie Hugo Rölleke.

"We knew it was going to be a difficult game. But the boys performed really well, especially in the first half, and played a very mature game," said Mike Tullberg in summary. He opted to rest Filippo Mane at the outset, while the suspended Danylo Krevsun (made his debut for the U23s on Saturday), Tyler Meiser (torn muscle fibre), Leonardo Posadas (just returned to team training) and Vincenzo Onofrietti, who had sustained an ankle injury in the final training session, were also unavailable. Young first-teamer Julien Duranville came into the starting line-up. The Belgian formed the wing duo along with Ousmane Diallo. Cole Campbell played in the hole behind the strikers, with Jaden Korzynietz, Elias Benkara, Niko Adamczyk and Almugera Kabar lining up in the back four.

With first-team coaches Edin Terzic, Sebastian Geppert and Sven Bender watching on, BVB made a self-confident and focused start. The team got their reward in the fifth minute when Almugera Kabar fired them into a 1-0 lead, heading the ball unstoppably into the net following Campbell's corner. However, the visitors did not react fearfully and instead attacked assertively, putting the Borussia players under pressure during build-up play and creating several good opportunities for themselves. Robin Lisewski made a spectacular save to keep out a free-kick taken by Luc Dabrowski (10) but was beaten a short while later when VfL forward Mohammed Mahmoud rounded off a lovely passage of play to level at 1-1.

Duranville provides assist, Diallo pulls trigger

It was a timely wake-up call. The Black & Yellows avoided careless mistakes in the period that followed and rediscovered their rhythm. A chance from Ousmane Diallo – after Duranville had won the ball in midfield and Campbell had played a pin-point pass – marked the start of Borussia's best and most spectacular phase of the game. Julien Duranville set up Ousmane Diallo's goal for 2-1 after a brilliant solo run (25), before Cole Campbell upped it to 3-1 with a lob following a pass from Paris Brunner (28). Brunner rounded off a strong individual display by making it 4-1. The U17 World Cup winner could have made it 5-1 shortly before the break, but Rölleke kept out goal number five with a stunning stop.

BVB temporarily switched into game management mode in the second period. Bochum did not let up and cut the deficit to 4-2 through Lenz (61) and continued to find further gaps in what was at times a porous Dortmund defence. At the other end, the Borussia players created several opportunities to improve their already excellent goal difference through Brunner, Campbell and substitute Charles Herrmann in this lively derby.

"I wasn't entirely satisfied with the second half as we invested less, but overall the team deserved praise against a good opponent," said Mike Tullberg, who was delighted with the large crowd in the Jugendstadion at the Youth Performance Centre: "The boys deserve this support from the crowd. I hope that the stands will be as full for the two home games against Duisburg and Schalke too."

BVB will play their next Bundesliga match away to Fortuna Düsseldorf (Saturday at 11:00 CET).

BVB: Lisewski – Korzynietz, Benkara, Adamczyk (Mane, 60), Kabar (Rashidi, 68) – Lubach, Wätjen – Duranville (Herrmann, 60), Campbell, Diallo (Ubani, 68) – Brunner.

(wiwi)