Borussia Dortmund's U23s got the second of the Regionalliga West season underway with a 2-0 (1-0) loss at home to Bonner SC. However, Oberhausen's defeat means that BVB remain in second place.

The scenario:
After picking up four points in their last two matches and seeing league leaders Viktoria Cologne drop points, Jan Siewert's side went into their first match of the second half of the season against Bonner SC full of hope. The absence of Bundesliga action this weekend meant that the Rote Erde was considerably more packed than it usually is, with a total of 1,179 fans present to watch the BVB second string.

Personnel:
As was the case last week in Aachen, Jan Reckert started in goal for Borussia. Alexander Isak replaced Kempes Tekiela, which meant that the U23s benefited from a rare consistency, with only one change to the starting line-up from the week before

The first half:
It wasn't long after he blew his whistle to start the match that the referee Schuh was signalling a penalty. The BVB defensive line failed to keep its shape, which led to a foul in the penalty area by Marco Rente on Vojno Jesic. Adis Omerbasic stepped up to decisively convert the spot-kick and give the visitors the lead. The away team kept up their momentum and threatened Jan Reckert's goal on several occasions. Some good work from Jesic presented Nils Rütten with a chance to score with his head (24), but he sent the ball just over the bar.

BVB were having difficulties getting their attacking players involved in the match and thus created very little in the way of goal scoring opportunities. One of the few real chances fell to Joseph Boyamba in the 28th minute, but he failed to connect with the set-piece delivery. Shortly before half-time, Alexander Isak left two defenders in his tracks on the left wing and played the ball to Boyamba, who was unable to convert the cross into an effort on target. In these closing phases of the first half, Borussia were able to pin the opposition back in their own half, but they were never really able to translate this apparent superiority into decisive passages of play.

The second half:
As at the end of the first half, BVB were clearly on top. The players in Black and Yellow piled the pressure on their opponents, but they were nonetheless still finding it difficult to penetrate the Rhinelander's two banks of four. A brilliant pass from Dominik Wanner gave Herbert Bockhorn a great chance to score, but his looped effort failed to beat the Bonner goalkeeper. In the 77th minute, the visitors launched a counter-attack down the right-hand side, which ended with the substitute Somuah putting the ball in the back of the net. In the closing minutes, Gianluca Rizzo was brought down by Bonner goalkeeper Monath. Herbert Bockhorn stepped up to take the resultant penalty, but he sent his effort flying over the bar.

What the coach had to say:
Jan Siewert: ''We really didn't deserve to win today. Our entire game plan had to be scrapped just four minutes in. We made two bizarre mistakes in defence, and then we lacked the courage and desire to turn it round. We have to process this.''

What's to come:
There will be no Regionalliga fixtures next weekend due to the day of remembrance next Sunday. The week afterwards, Borussia will travel to play league leaders Viktoria Cologne. Kick-off is at 14:00 CET.

U23: Reckert, Hanke, Kilian, Rente, Wanner, Schwermann, Ornatelli, Boadu, Bockhorn, Boyamba, Isak.
Jens Volke