Match Report
U23s pick up a point against Saarbrücken
The scenario: Saarbrücken had never lost a game to Dortmund's reserves under coach Rüdiger Ziehl. This was a meeting between two of the most in-form teams. BVB were one of the best teams in the division on home turf, while Saarbrücken were one of the top three away teams and also boasted the best defensive record in the 3. Liga. While Saarbrücken are battling for promotion, Borussia have pulled away from the lower echelons of the table in recent weeks.
Personnel matters: Yannik Lührs was brought in from the first-team squad and drafted into the heart of defence. That resulted in Franz Roggow moving into midfield and replacing Felix Paschke. Kjell Wätjen started in place of the suspended Michael Eberwein. Babis Drakas replaced Cole Campbell, who has travelled to Wolfsburg for the first team's game on Sunday, in the starting XI. Only two players in the BVB squad were over 23 years of age.
The match & analysis: A great crowd of 4,879 spectators at Stadion Rote Erde – 1,481 of whom were visitors from Saarland – bore witness to a dogged encounter. The home team repeatedly tried to play long balls to the quick wingers Julian Hettwer and Babis Drakas. Borussia registered their first shot at goal through Jordi Paulina in the 16th minute after launching such a counter-attack following a Saarbrücken corner-kick. Things got really dangerous for Phillip Menzel in goal for the visitors two minutes later following a Kjell Wätjen free-kick. A ball from a deep position landed on the head of Saarbrücken's Philip Fahrner, who played the ball against the woodwork of his own goal.
Borussia were unlucky in the 28th minute of the match when the referee overlooked an alleged FCS handball in the box and did not award a penalty to the home team. But after making several protests, the Black & Yellows did not let themselves be knocked off their stride and got their next shot away via Antonio Foti only a short while later – though it was too central and at Menzel.
Saarbrücken were almost toothless, in part because BVB defended really well and kept the ball away from their own goal. The already raucous crowd groaned in the 40th minute when Julian Hettwer flicked the ball goalbound at the near post with his back to goal following a corner-kick and struck the woodwork.
The second period was devoid of any attacking action for a long time. Like in the first half, the ball was passed around in midfield for the most part. Menzel, who had been strong up to that point, attempted a direct duel with BVB striker Jordi Paulina after a back-pass in the 62nd minute. However, the Dutchman did not get the decisive contact on the ball to punish the goalkeeper's risk-taking..
Julian Hettwer had to be substituted with back problems in the 82nd minute and missed his team's offensive in the closing stages. In stoppage time, a free-kick cross from Baran Mogultay flew into the penalty area. Saarbrücken's Menzel misjudged the ball and the visitors joined forces to stop themselves from going behind. Substitute Justin Butler tested the goalkeeper once again a minute later but it remained goalless at 0-0 until the final whistle.
Coach Jan Zimmermann: "We did not give much away but didn't have many chances ourselves at the same time. Nonetheless, we could've definitely used one of the few chances we had. But today we kept a clean sheet at the back and we'll see that as a positive development. We can look back positively on the first half-season. The development and the way we play football are very positive and we can go into the break and the second half-season with a good feeling."
Franz Roggow: "We would've taken the point prior to the game. We had the better chances in the end; Saarbrücken couldn't have complained if they had lost here today. Two months ago we would've lost a game in which we were better but did not score. Now we're defending well and keeping a clean sheet at the back. We'll set ourselves this tally of 26 points as a goal for the second half- season."
Outlook: The Dortmund reserves now have a break from competitive matches until 18 January. Then they will return to action away to SpVgg Unterhaching.
Goals: None
U23s: Lotka – Mogultay, Hüning, Lührs, Krevsun – Wätjen (Elongo-Yombo, 59), Roggow, Foti (Jessen, 87) – Hettwer (Butler, 82), Drakas (Paschke, 58), Paulina (Lelle, 87)
