U23s continue winning streak in Cologne

The pre-match scenario: Two wins in their last two matches meant the Black & Yellows went into their trip to Cologne on a fine run of form. Their opponents, for their part, sat in third place in the league table after winning five of their first seven matches.

Personnel: Kolbein Finnsson slotted back into the starting line-up after returning from international duty. Both Leonardo Balerdi and Tobias Raschl dropped down from the first-team squad to join the U23s.

Raschl tees up Tigges to give BVB 1-0 lead. 

First half: The Black & Yellows started the match on the front foot. Coach Mike Tullberg's side were extremely composed in possession and were able to dictate the play in the first few minutes of the encounter at the Franz Kremer Stadium. Tobi Raschl was the stand-out performer in these early stages of the match: the young midfielder saw plenty of the ball and threaded several dangerous passes forward into attacking areas. Although the home side's five-man defensive line held firm, any time they managed to win the ball back they were unable to create much with it. With 15 minutes played, it was BVB frontman Magnus Kaastrup who had the first notable shot on goal, but his effort was easily kept out by the Cologne goalkeeper.

The Black & Yellows came much closer to opening the scoring in the 26th minute: Joseph Boyamba unleashed a powerful effort goalwards, but a brave block from a Cologne defender was enough to deflect his effort wide of the mark. Goalkeeper Brady Scott was left stranded and would have had no chance to make the save. BVB continued to pile on the pressure, and, on the half hour mark, had their next good goal-scoring opportunity of the match: a dangerous cross was played into the box by Finnsson, Kaastrup got his head to it but his effort flew just over the bar. Five minutes before the interval, the Black & Yellows finally got the reward their strong first-half performance had deserved. Raschl played a deft pass to Steffen Tigges, who was able to get the better of the Cologne goalkeeper to slot the ball home and make it 1-0 to BVB.

Reckert comes on for the injured Oelschlägel - new arrival Arif Et makes his debut

Second half: The second half started on something of a negative note for BVB: an injury to Eric Oelschlägel meant he was unable to leave the dressing room after half time. Jan-Pascal Reckert duly stepped up to replace him in the Dortmund goal. The Black & Yellows appeared unfazed, and, in the 55th minute, were able to extend their lead: a corner was played to the far-post, where captain Joseph Boyamba was on hand to fire in a majestic volley and bring the score to 2-0. BVB were on fire, putting in a more or less perfect away performance and bossing the match in all areas of the field.

It took over 70 minutes for Cologne to enjoy their first sustained spell of possession in the Dortmund half. The Rhineland-based side appeared too passive throughout most of the match, but this was no doubt partly an impression created by the sheer dominance of their guests in Black & Yellow. With a quarter of an hour left, BVB new arrival Arif Et made his Regionalliga debut for the club. The striker came on to replace captain Boyamba, who was forced to leave the field of play due to an injury. Borussia saw out what remained of the game superbly well, even managing to put the icing on the cake with a third goal before the final whistle: Tobi Raschl topped off his man-of-the-match performance with a stunning strike from 20 metres out to make it 3-0.

BVB U23: Oelschlägel (46. Reckert) – Hippe, Rente, Balerdi, Finnsson – Raschl, Hober (70. Tunga), Kaastrup (63. Duman) – Führich, Tigges, Boyamba (75. Et)

Goals: 0-1 Tigges (40.), 0-2 Boyamba (55.), 0-3 Raschl (85.)