The Borussia Dortmund U23s used their second match-free weekend to play a friendly. KFC Uerdingen, who won promotion to the 3. Bundesliga last season, were the visiting team at the Dortmund Brackel training centre on Friday afternoon. They were deservedly defeated 2-0 (0-0).

Jan Siewert's team had support from the senior squad. Alexander Isak, Sergio Gomez, Jeremy Toljan and Julian Weigl stood in the starting eleven to face the outfit from Krefeld. Playing for the guests were, among others, Kevin Großkreutz and Patrick Pflücke.

Both teams made for an open game during the first 25 minutes of the encounter. BVB had their best chance after around ten minutes played when Hanke took aim and only just missed the target. KFC's best chance of the game came in the 22' minute, but BVB's keeper Oelschlägel was able to turn the shot round the goal.

BVB began to edge the game after around half an hour. Alexander Isak placed a lob just over the bar in the 32' minute of time. A shot from distance attempted by Wanner was also to land over Krefeld's crossbar a short time later. Both teams then slowed down the pace of the match until the break, and so it remained a no-score draw as the first passage of play drew to a close.

KFC sent out an almost completely fresh line-up for the second passage of play, while BVB kept it to just the one substitution, with Pavlidis replacing the injured Hanke. The Krefeld boys started well after the break and missed a chance to take the lead. Oelschlägel made two strong saves to deny them. After a good hour had been played it was time for Julian Weigl to take a bath. The defensive midfielder played a tight game and conceded few chances. He was replaced by Tim Sechelmann.

Jan Siebert opted to make further changes at the midway point of the second half. Mory Konté and trialist Jose Relucio replaced Julian Schwermann and Luca Kilian. The Borussia boys were now the better team and got their deserved 1-0 lead in the 80' minute. Sergio Gomez left the opposition keeper with no chance after build-up play from Alexander Isak, crowning his excellent performance with a goal. Their defences had finally been penetrated, and BVB's interplay now began to flow more smoothly. After Sören Dieckmann won the ball, a brilliant play via the substitute Leon Burggraf found its end in the back of the Uerdinger goal thanks to Evangelos Pavlidis.

Ultimately, Borussia won the game against KFC Uerdingen 2-0 and deservedly so. As a result, they head into their forthcoming Regionalliga matches well-prepared. Jan Siewert's charges face SC Wiedenbrücknext week on Sunday. 
Timo Lammert