Despite making such an outstanding start to the Regionalliga season, the Borussia Dortmund U23s have now suffered their second defeat in a row − a 2-1 (2-0) loss to SC Verl − and dropped down to third place in the table.

BVB coach Jan Siewert made wholesale changes to the team that started against SV Lippstadt last time out. Reinforcements from the senior squad came in the form of Alexander Isak and Dzenis Burnic, who both started, while Amos Pieper, Mory Konate, Beyhan Ametov and Leon Burggraf returned to the line-up. They were joined in the starting XI by Jonas Aquisterpace, who signed from Sportclub Verl in midweek.

Both teams made for an extremely fast-paced start to the match. SC Verl created the first shooting opportunity on the four-minute mark, but it was at a comfortable height for Eric Oelschlägel to make the save. Two minutes later, however, the Dortmund shot-stopper had to pick the ball out of the net after Matthias Haeder headed home a cross to break the deadlock for the East Westphalians.

The BVB youngsters had an opportunity to restore parity with a quarter of an hour gone: Beyhan Ametov had been fouled in the penalty area, prompting the referee to point to the spot, but Massimo Ornatelli could not beat Robin Brüseke between the sticks for the visitors. The East Westphalians continued to attack courageously in the period that followed and created one opportunity after another, eventually doubling their advantage in the 24th minute when another Matthias Haeder effort found its way in.

BVB boss Jan Siewert reacted to the early setback by introducing Dominik Wanner on the left flank. The hosts began to have more structure in their play and greater confidence in the ball, though they failed to carve open clear-cut opportunities and went in at the break two goals down.

Siewert made another change at the start of the second half, with Evangelos Pavlidis replacing Beyhan Ametov in attacking midfield. The Black & Yellows came racing out of the blocks and created the first chance to score through Mory Konate, though his 48th-minute effort missed. The hosts were in the ascendancy and created their next good opportunity in the 54th minute through Massimo Ornatelli, whose shot was turned over the crossbar by Brüseke.

Following that 10-minute spell of sustained pressure by BVB, the match developed into an open encounter in which SC Verl also had a number of very good opportunities to put the result beyond doubt. But it was the Black & Yellows who struck next, with Joseph Boyamba pulling a goal back in the 71st minute. It was the best spell of the match for the home side, who had the East Westphalians pinned back into their own half.

SC Verl found themselves under mounting pressure as Dortmund threw everything forward in the final few minutes in a bid to level the scores, but it wasn't to be. There was to be no reward for a decent second-half performance and the BVB youngsters were condemned to a second successive defeat. Next up for the U23s is a slighter longer away trip next weekend: their destination will be close to the Dutch border, where they will face SV Straelen on Saturday.

BVB U23s: Oelschlägel – Hanke, Kilian, Pieper, Burggraf (Wanner, 30) – Konate, Ornatelli (Rizzo, 63), Burnic – Boyamba, Isak, Ametov (Pavlidis, 46)
Goals: 0-1 Haeder (6), 0-2 Haeder (24), 1-2 Boyamba (71)
Noteworthy incidents: Brüseke saves penalty from Ornatelli (16)
Timo Lammert