Post-Match Report
U23s fall to defeat in final preseason friendly against Almere City FC
BVB coach Jan Zimmermann was without Ayman Azhil and Yannik Lührs, who played 80 minutes for the first team in their match against Cerezo Osaka on Wednesday. Franz Roggow, Niklas Jessen and Abdoulaye Kamara, who only came on as substitutes in the closing stages in Japan, were all at Zimmermann's disposal again. Franz Roggow, Niklas Jessen and Abdoulaye Kamara. Keeper Silas Ostrzinski, who did not get any game time during the trip, was also back in the U23 squad. Prince Aning, David Lelle, Leonardo Posadas and Felix Irorere remain on the injured list. As a precautionary measure, the coach also decided to leave out defender Patrick Göbel.
Both teams initially endeavoured to control the game. BVB had good opportunities to take the lead in the first half through Rodney Elongo-Yomobo, Babis Drakas and Michael Eberwein. The visitors, who are already in their second year in the Dutch top flight, struck the woodwork. But that proved the closest either side got to scoring, as they went into the dressing room for half-time with the score stuck at 0-0.
In the second half, the U23 coach rotated and changed six positions. Julian Hettwer had BVB's best opportunity immediately after the break. However, the Dutch club came out with far greater determination after the change of ends, and managed to capitalise on a period of poor concentration from the Black & Yellows to score three goals.
Bapitste Guillaume (61), Kornelius Hansen (63) and Hamdi Akujobi (75) were the goalscorers for the side from the Netherlands. In the 81st minute, Hettwer had a big chance to pull one back, but after strong link-up play from Mogultay and Roggow, his header wizzed just wide of the target. This meant the score remained 3-0 by the time the referee drew the whistle to his lips to signal full time.
"We produced a good performance. We let the game slip out of our hands in five minutes of poor focus. We have to take that with us, despite all the positive things I also saw today," said the coach, summarising the last test match before the start of the league campaign. ‘The way we played football deserved a different result, but this match should teach us that we need to stay switched on at every moment in the league," added Zimmermann.
Next week, Borussia Dortmund's U23s will kick off their 3. Liga campaign with their first home game of the season. SpVgg Unterhaching will visit the Black & Yellows on 3 August (14:00 CEST).