Match Report
U19s triumph 2-1 away to Real Madrid
"It certainly wasn't all good on a footballing level but it makes me really proud how much heart and passion the team invested in the second period. That was the real Borussia Dortmund," said Tullberg after the final whistle. The Madrid outfit had already taken a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute, with the outstanding BVB keeper Robin Lisewski ensuring the deficit did not become even bigger.
The Black & Yellows turned the match around in the second period. Nick Cherny first converted a penalty kick that was awarded for a foul on Taycan Etcibasi to level the scores at 1-1, before provider Etcibasi turned scorer and netted the winner to make it 2-1 in the eighth minute of stoppage time. It was set up by Mussa Kaba, who had been carried off the pitch on a stretcher due to a severe cramp 10 minutes earlier and had conjured up the last ounces of his strength. "The lad could hardly stand on his feet and then played a significant role in helping us win," said Tullberg, praising the 15-year-old's attitude.
Starting XI with Albert, Mane and Wätjen
The Black & Yellow youngsters had surprisingly started with American Mathis Albert, who is only 15 years old, at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano. In addition, Mike Tullberg had strengthened his team with defensive leader Filippo Mane and young first-team player Kjell Wätjen in midfield. They joined Cole Campbell and Almugera Kabar in the first-team squad in the evening. Madrid, meanwhile, could count on their strongest squad and stabilised the team with three U20 players. "That shows that Real have a lot of respect for us," commented Tullberg.
Borussia's team, which had not even been able to train in this setup, were naturally lacking when it came to automatisms and understanding of the game. This was in stark contrast to the finely tuned "Royals", who quickly put the young Dortmund players under pressure with their confident link-up and passing play and their high pressing play. Especially as the match took the course that Real wanted. Before BVB had found their bearings, they were already 1-0 behind. Mesa had all the time in the world on the left flank in order to deliver a precision cross into the middle and Llanos had no trouble slotting past Robin Lisewski to make it 1-0 (8).
Mike Tullberg, who had to do without his assistant Daniel Rios following his dismissal for a second bookable offence in the 38th minute, reacted to his team's clear inferiority at the break by making three substitutions at once: Elias Benkara came in for Jonas Feddersen, who was replaced on the left side of defence by Tyler Meiser. Samuele Inacio replaced Mathis Albert and Thierry Fidjeu-Tazemeta came on for Diego Ngambia. Around the hour-mark mark, Taycan Etcibasi replaced Ousmane Diallo on the left flank. The BVB coach had also found the words to set his charges on the right path.
Taycan Etcibasi's dream debut
The team, who no longer respectfully shied away but instead went into the challenges with edge and demonstrated the courage and bite demanded by Tullberg, were rewarded for their significantly improved performance with a dream debut from Taycan Etcibasi. Diego Aguado committed a foul on Etcibasi, who had been played in by Samuele Inacio, and Nick Cherny converted the resultant penalty kick to make it 1-1 (64).
In the final phase – during which BVB had to play a man down for almost 10 minutes after Mussa Kaba's injury – Robin Lisewski shone by making a magnificent save with his foot to deny Danuiel Yanez. And Borussia snatched the winner right at the death. The ball made its way via Samuele Inacio and Mussa Kaba – who had just returned – to Taycan Etcibasi, and he scored.
"I said to my boys at half-time: We can talk a lot about football. But in the end, football is about heart and passion, about daring to do something and showing where we come from. This is coal and steel football. They don't play football like that, but we do. In the second half, it was an endless battle," said Mike Tullberg in praise of his team.
U19s: Lisewski – Rashidi, Mane (Adamczyk, 72), Meiser, Feddersen (Benkara, 46) – Wätjen, Kaba – Cherny – Albert (Inacio, 46), Ngambia (Fidjeu-Tazemeta, 46), Diallo (Etcibasi, 61)
(wiwi)