An exciting clash saw the Borussia Dortmund U23s and Viktoria Köln draw 2-2 (0-2) on Matchday 2 of the Regionalliga season. Dominik Wanner's brace restored parity after the visitors had taken a two-goal lead and BVB could − and perhaps should − have won the game in the end.

Coach Jan Siewert's charges, with only one change from their last outing, showed plenty of attacking intent in the opening minutes of the first half, dominating play at the Rote Erde Stadium and carving open their first chance to threaten the opposition goal after only five minutes had been played. Massimo Ornatelli's volley from around 25 metres sailed high over the Köln crossbar, however. Nonetheless, the BVB youngsters kept up their momentum in the period that followed and had further chances through Pavlidis (7), Bockhorn (8) and Boyamba (9). Yet despite having the game under control, they couldn't make the breakthrough. The men from the Rhineland, meanwhile, were noticeably missing the presence of their captain Mike Wunderlich in midfield.

The best opportunity fell to Evangelos Pavlidis on the 20-minute-mark, though his shot from almost 16 metres flew centimetres wide. For Viktoria, meanwhile, the only glimpses at goal came from long-range efforts that posed no problems for shot-stopper Jan Reckert. With temperatures above 30 degrees, referee Bastian Börner opted to give the players a drinks break midway through the first period. With Borussia less dominant once play had resumed, Köln created several opportunities and successfully broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when a shot from centre-back Daniel Reiche went in off the post. The goal had an element of fortune about it, it has to be said.

Falling behind did not seem to affect the young Black & Yellows, however, and they almost equalised only two minutes later. Unfortunately, Joseph Boyamba's lob did not quite come off. The visitors now began to foray forward even more and they doubled their lead from the spot on the half-hour mark. The referee awarded a penalty for supposed foul play and Timm Golley stepped up to make it 2-0. Jan Reckert went the right way, but the shot was too well-placed.

The tempo from both teams dropped in the remainder of the first period and the Dortmund lads went in at half-time 2-0 down.

Jan Siewert opted to make a change and brought on the pacey Dominik Wanner to replace Sören Dieckmann, whose position was taken by Herbert Bockhorn. The Black & Yellows continued with their attacking emphasis and were rewarded in the 58th minute when substitute Wanner pulled one back for the home side. Massimo Ornatelli split the Köln back line with a pass and Wanner was left with the simple task of slotting home.

Buoyed by their goal and the strong home support, the U23s battled on and deservedly levelled only two minutes later. Wanner was again the scorer, latching on to Pavlidis' pass to make it 2-2. Viktoria had little more to offer in the second period, with coach Patrick Glöckner's side seemingly reeling and only rarely showing signs of life. BVB, meanwhile, continued to deliver an impressive performance and could have gone ahead for the first time in the 67th minute, only for Pavlidis to have an unmarked header saved by opposing goalkeeper Sebastian Patzler.

The hosts remained in the ascendancy and consistently kept up their pressure on the Köln rearguard, while the men from the Rhineland mostly played long balls to temporarily relieve the pressure. Patrick Glöckner's charges looked flat by this point but BVB could not get the all-important third, meaning the final game before an almost three-week long break ended in stalemate.

BVB will travel to SC Wiedenbrück for their next Regionalliga match on 26 August.
Timo Lammert