Match Report
U19s celebrate convincing derby victory
"It's simply fun with the boys, they played outstanding football against a very strong opponent. Schalke's young team and their coach, who does a first-class job year-in year-out, also deserve the utmost respect. That was an advertisement for junior football," summarised Mike Tullberg, who hugged and congratulated each player following the final whistle.
Cole Campbell was at the disposal of the U19s again following his "trial period" in the first-team training camp, as was Taycan Etcibasi, who has recently had to watch from the sidelines with injury. Jonas Feddersen slotted into the left-back role in the back four in place of Almugera Kabar, who has been promoted to the first team. The captain's armband was worn by goalkeeper Robin Lisewski, one of three older age-group players alongside Campbell and William Rashidi in BVB's young starting line-up.
In what was a high-level encounter, it was Schalke who surprisingly broke the deadlock following an opening phase dominated by the Black & Yellows. Osman Turay came out on top against Elias Benkara and won the ball, played it on to Luca Vozar, and Lisewski had no chance of keeping out his shot from 16 metres out, which took a deflection off Benkara (ninth minute). But Borussia did not allow themselves to be knocked off their stride and attacked Schalke mainly via their strong attacking wide players Ousmane Diallo and Cole Campbell.
Both players excelled in the lead-up to the equalising goal (20th minute). Following some spectacular build-up play from Diallo, Campbell struck the upright and Jonas Feddersen slotted the rebound into the net from 16 metres. Had Taycan Etcibasi not failed to play the ball to the outstanding Campbell in time following a quick counter-attack in the 43rd minute, the Black & Yellows would have probably taken the lead prior to the interval. Partly because of that and also because that team did allow themselves one or two moments of carelessly off the ball, Tullberg was critical: "I made it clear in the half-time interval that a certain seriousness and decisive intervention was at times lacking."
Cole Campbell with outstanding display
That improved significantly, and they made up for spurning the opportunity to take the lead in the 52nd minute. Campbell played a free-kick with the right degree of sharpness into the six-yard box and Mussa Kaba, who is only 15 years old and produced another outstanding display in defensive midfield, headed the ball into the net. As the second period progressed, the Black & Yellows put even more of their stamp on the derby. Schalke repeatedly came unstuck against the organised Dortmund defence and did not create any compelling chances for themselves.
It was a very different story for BVB. After Thierry Tazemeta, Nick Cherny and Taycan Etcibasi spurned good opportunities and Diego Ngambia, who had only just come out, hit the upright, the outstanding Cole Campbell slotted home spectacularly following Tazemeta's pass to make it 3-1 (79). It was the final goal of a derby that BVB had turned into a surprisingly clear-cut affair. "What is decisive for me is the fact that we're getting better game by game. The lads are on a good path," reflected Mike Tullberg.
The DFB-Nachwuchsliga campaign will continue on Wednesday. Borussia will host MSV Duisburg at Fußballpark Hohenbuschei at 18:00 CEST.
BVB: Lisewski – Rashidi, Benkara, Meiser, Feddersen – Kaba, Cherny – Campbell (Niziolek, 86), Etcibasi (Burstedde, 70), Diallo (Ngambia, 76)– Kegni (Tazemeta, 46)
(wiwi)