Borussia Dortmund's U19 team lived up to their billing as favourites in the semi-final first leg of the final round of the German Championship and established a good base to seal a spot in the final on 29 May with a 5-1 victory impressing with fine combination play especially in the second half. Bradley Fink scored a hat-trick and Julian Rijkhoff found the net twice.

Fink gave BVB the lead in the 32nd minute after Göktan Gürpüz and Lion Semic had done the groundwork. Schalke’s equaliser came out of nowhere: After a long punt forward by goalkeeper Treichel, Borussia's goalkeeper Silas Ostrzinski misjudged the bounce and Anubodem slotted the ball into the empty net from 20 metres just before the break.

After the interval, the Black and Yellows increased the pressure, but at the start of the half it was still difficult against a combative Schalke side, who enthusiastically celebrated every successful challenge for the ball. In the 51st minute, Julian Rijkhoff scored from Tom Rothe's free kick to make it 2-1, but BVB continued to play their style of football and were rewarded in the 68th minute with Bradley Fink's goal to increase the lead to 3-1. The goal was preceded by a precise cross from Lion Semic, who had been well set up by Gürpüz.

Schalke had to paid tribute to their exhausting style of play in the final stages of the game. After another Lion Semic assist, Julian Rijkhoff fired the ball into the net to make it 4-1. The final goal was scored by Bradley Fink after Jamie Bynoe-Gittens had been fouled by Schalke's goalkeeper Treichel. Fink used the advantage rule to his benefit to score his third goal of the game.

The return match will take place on Sunday at the Parkstadion in Gelsenkirchen (kick-off 11:00 CET). In the event of a tie, goal difference will be the deciding factor. If there is still no winner, the match will go to a penalty shoot-out without extra time.

Hertha BSC won their first semi-final match 3-1 at FC Augsburg in front of 8,000 spectators. The capital city side therefore have the best chance of reaching the final on Sunday, 29 May (kick-off 13:00 CET.) as hosts.

BVB: Ostrzinski – Semic (80. Ludwig), Collins, Kleine-Bekel, Rothe – Bynoe-Gittens (83. El-Zein), Kamara (46. Cisse), Walz, Gürpüz – Rijkhoff, Fink.
(wiwi)