Match Report
BVB overcome Lübeck and win 4-1 in front of record crowd
Boris Rupert reporting from Hamburg
40,000 of the 50,971 spectators in total – an attendance record in the DFB-Pokal first round! – were Black & Yellows. They saw a committed opponent, and a BVB that dominated for a long time and took a 2-0 lead via two set-piece situations: Anton from a corner (3) and Can from the penalty spot (31). Brandt upped the lead to 3-0 with a dream goal before the break. Ilonka grabbed a consolation goal for the Regionalliga outfit, who also hit the woodwork three times, in the 55th minute! Duranville re-established the three-goal cushion seven minutes later.
The scenario:
Regionalliga club Phönix Lübeck had qualified for the first round of the DFB-Pokal by winning the Landespokal Schleswig-Holstein, were taking part in this competition for the second time after 1976 and had proclaimed the game against BVB to be their "Match of the Century". The game was played at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg.
Personnel matters:
There were few personnel problems at the start of the season. Only new signing Serhou Guirassy (rehab after lateral collateral ligament injury) and Kjell Wätjen (muscular problems) were not available for selection. Except for one change, it was the same line-up that had beaten Aston Villa 2-0 the weekend beforehand: Julian Ryerson replaced Yan Couto.
Tactics:
Both teams initially lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, albeit with significantly different approaches. Lübeck attacked courageously, countered Dortmund's build-up play with a high pressing game and closed down the Borussia player on the ball with tempo. When the Black & Yellows had possession, Ryerson pushed forward from the back four and turned the trio in attacking midfield into a quartet (Ryerson, Sabitzer, Brandt and Gittens). The most advanced Dortmund player was Adeyemi. Phönix switched to a 5-4-1 midway through the first half.
The match & analysis:
Despite the courageous approach from Lübeck, BVB recorded 91% ball possession in the first 25 minutes but could not break through to begin with and instead scored an early goal from a set-piece: Anton was afforded lots of space following a Groß corner and turned the ball over the line at the back post to make it 1-0. Barely three minutes were on the clock.
Borussia looked for but continued to be unable to find any gaps in the well-organised, hard-running and committed Lübeck defence in the period that followed. It was not until the 30th minute that Adeyemi broke through after Brandt's pass and was fouled by Ntika in the box. Can hit the penalty with power and placement into the top-left corner for 2-0. BVB's third goal in first-half stoppage time was wonderfully created and wonderfully finished off. A long ball from Groß deep in his own half was controlled with brilliant technique by the right foot of Brandt, who turned and finished with his left foot in perfect symbiosis – crazy!
Sahin was absolutely not satisfied with the start to the second half, in which his side continued to have the upper hand, and he clearly showed it. And they were quickly made to pay. The advancing central defender Iloka was twice only closed down half-heartedly and then found himself clean through. Substitute Meyer, who had come on for Kobel after the break, could not keep out his shot into the top-left corner (55). Sahin reacted by making a triple substitution (Malen, Duranville and Couto came on for Can, Gittens and Ryerson). And Lübeck smelled blood: Adou struck the woodwork with a powerful shot (60).
But there would not be a comeback: Couto came out on top against four opponents in central midfield and passed into the path of Duranville, who converted confidently and re-established the three-goal cushion to make it 4-1 (62). Beier, who had also come on as a substitute (69), almost celebrated his first goal in a BVB shirt with his first touch of the ball but was denied by the goalkeeper (72). Iloka (81) and Adou (84) became the second and third Lübeck players to hit the post.
Outlook:
The ties for the second round will be drawn at the German Football Museum in Dortmund on 1 September (from 17:10 CEST, live on ZDF) and played on 29 and 30 October. The first Bundesliga match of the new season will see BVB take on Eintracht Frankfurt next Saturday (18:30 CEST).
Teams & goals
DFB-Pokal First Round
PHÖNIX LÜBECK 1-4 (0-3) BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Phönix Lübeck: Leonhard – Bock, Iloka, Ntika, Sadrifar – Berger, Maiolo (Fritzsche, 84) – Adou (Kurz, 75), Obushnyi (Ajala-Alexis, 46), Stöver (Ihde, 75) – Kliti (Lesueur, 61)
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel (Meyer, 46) – Ryerson (Couto, 59), Anton, Süle, Schlotterbeck – Can (Malen, 59), Groß – Sabitzer, Brandt, Gittens (Duranville, 59) – Adeyemi (Beier, 69)
Substitutes: Schneider, Ihde, Jablonski, Kurz, Poplawski, Simsek – Bensebaini, Reyna, Nmecha, Haller
Goals: 1-0 Anton (Groß corner, 3), 0-2 Can (penalty for foul on Adeyemi by Ntika, 31), 0-3 Brandt (Groß, 45+1), 1-3 Iloka (55), 1-4 Duranville (Couto, 62)
Corners: 2-5 (0-2 at half-time), chance ratio: 5-6 (1-4)
Referee: Dr. Burda (Berlin), yellow cards: Ntika, Berger – Schlotterbeck
Attendance: 50,971 (in Hamburg), weather: overcast, 22 degrees