Match Report
U23s come back from 2-0 down to claim point in Aachen
Scenario: After three defeats without scoring a goal, BVB managed to reverse the trend last weekend. Thanks to the 1:0 win against Sandhausen, BVB are now six points clear of the relegation places. Alemannia Aachen had two points fewer on their tally ahead of the clash. The home side had not won in four matches.
Personnel matters: Compared to the home game against Sandhausen, U23 coach Jan Zimmermann made two changes to his starting XI: left-back Almugera Kabar, who signed a professional contract with BVB just a few days ago, came into the team for David Lelle. In attack, Cole Campbell was preferred to Antonio Foti. The 19-year-old scored the final goal in the 3-0 win against Aachen earlier in the season. Zimmermann was still without top scorer Julian Hettwer (11 goals, six assists), who has been out since the start of the second half of the season with back problems.
The match: Aachen started the game better on a difficult surface. BVB, on the other hand, initially took a wait-and-see approach and focused on defence, with the exception of a few chances in transition.
The first dangerous moment at Aachen's Tivoli came after just over five minutes: Following a pass from midfield, Mika Hanraths suddenly found himself in front of the Dortmund goal and slotted home to give his side the lead. However, referee Felix Grund ruled the play offside, even though BVB captain Franz Roggow got the last touch on the ball. However, the referee deemed the action not to be a controlled movement, hence why the goal did not count.
Just a few seconds after this initial flurry of action, Anas Bakhat forced Lotka into a save with a header from five metres out. At the other end, Kjell Wätjen (13) came close, but failed to truly test Aachen goalkeeper Jan Olschowsky. Aachen continued to have the advantage and looked more determined, but BVB stood firm defensively. That said, Dortmund, dressed all in black, were scattershot in attack. Time and time again the passes were too imprecise.
After just over half an hour, BVB then conceded the first goal, scored by Bentley Baxter Bahn. The 32-year-old finished a low cross on the turn to make it 1-0 to Aachen. BVB continued to struggle going forward after falling behind, meaning they went into the break narrowly down on the scoresheet.
BVB's attacking endeavours also remained toothless at the start of the second half. Zimmermann's team were more proactive, but their only effort was a tame shot on goal from Roggow in the 48th minute. Things then got worse for Borussia: Kabar lost possession near his own corner flag and was mercilessly punished by Aachen. Bahn's cross was nodded in by Anas Bakhat, whose header across goal was too strong for Lotka. Aachen's second goal was something of a rarity. Previously, the league's weakest attack had scored no more than one goal in 19 of their 24 games thus far this season.
Zimmermann reacted to the 2-0 scoreline with a triple substitution: Ayman Azhil, Antonio Foti and Danylo Krevsun came in for Patrick Göbel, Cole Campbell and Kjell Wätjen. However, even with fresh legs on the pitch, Dortmund lacked the ideas to shake up the home side. Although the run of play was fairly even, it was still Alemannia who seemed more in control. But out of nowhere, the game became exciting once again. A cross from Krevsun found Azhil, who slotted home completely unmarked (72).
BVB suddenly sensed their chance, took more risks - and were rewarded for their efforts. Once again, it was a substitute who struck with ice-cold precision. Michael Eberwein passed to Foti, who turned and slammed the ball into the far corner to equalise. Thanks to ice-cold finishing, BVB managed to secure an all-important point.
Coach Jan Zimmermann: "We knew what to expect here. We made it too easy for our opponents with our individual errors. We simply made too many mistakes in front of both goals. Aachen were on the road to victory, but when they didn't really claim it, we got ourselves back in it. That speaks volumes of the lads. It's another game the boys can learn a lot from."
Outlook: Next Saturday (1 March, 14:00 CET), the Black & Yellows will host Rot-Weiss Essen in a regional derby at the Rote Erde stadium. BVB lost the reverse fixture 3-1.
Goals: 1-0 Bahn (36, 2-0 Bakhat (53), 2-1 Azhil (72), 2-2 Foti (86)
U23: Lotka - Kabar, Hüning (79, Aning), Lührs, Göbel (58, Krevsun) - Roggow, Wätjen (58, Azhil), Eberwein - Campbell (58, Foti), Paulina, Elongo-Yombo (90.+1, Lelle)
Phillip Oldenburg