The Borussia Dortmund U23s continued their unbeaten start to the 3. Liga season on Matchday 3. Coach Enrico Maassen's charges produced an outstanding attacking display as they deservedly swept aside the SC Freiburg reserves 5-2 (3-2). Marco Pasalic, Timo Bornemann, Richmond Tachie, Berkan Taz and Cebrail Makreckis scored the goals in what was the second win of the season for the Black & Yellows, who now lead the table prior to the remaining fixtures of the round.

Pre-match scenario: The Breisgau was at its beautiful best on Friday. Scorching sunshine, temperatures around the 30 degree mark and 5,300 spectators at Dreisamstadion provided the setting for this match between two U23 teams.

The opposition: The Freiburg reserves had played out goalless draws in both of their first two games. The newly-promoted side gave a decent account of themselves and held their own against Wehen Wiesbaden and Magdeburg. The men from the Breisgau play an attacking brand of football, though they have found goals hard to come by in their opening matches. The team is coached by last year's U19 tactician Thomas Stamm.

Personnel matters: Lennard Maloney was back after a spell with the senior team and slotted into the starting XI. Ole Pohlmann made his first start. Marco Hober, Moritz Broschinski and Florian Krebs were all missing through injury, while Niklas Dams had to miss out through suspension following a red card.

The match & analysis: Both teams were sizing each other up in the opening minutes. The Black & Yellows were quick to put the hosts under pressure in their own half and succeeded in playing the ball in behind after winning it back. A first shot from Richmond Tachie on the seven-minute mark was blocked at the last moment. The first good chance for Freiburg culminated in the opener, with a mix-up in the Dortmund defence allowing Kevin Schade to break the deadlock.

But BVB remained unperturbed by the setback and reacted by levelling the scores at 1-1 only a minute later. Timo Bornemann played in Marco Pasalic, who fired the ball into the top-left corner from 16 metres out. With the wind in their sails following the equaliser, BVB continued to try to get forward and found the back of the Freiburg net once again 120 seconds later. This time provider Bornemann turned goalscorer to make it 2-1.

The BVB attack did not afford themselves a breather after the second goal, with Richmond Tachie soon beating Freiburg shot-stopper Noah Atubolu from range to make it 3-1. There were only 21 minutes on the clock by this point. The hosts needed some time to recover from their triple setback. But as the match approached the half-hour point, Kevin Schade once again beat Luca Unbehaun between the sticks for Dortmund. Both teams slowed the tempo down in the remaining 10 minutes and, with no further goals, the BVB youngsters took in a slender lead at the interval. 

The hosts switched up their system slightly at the start of the second half. They were now playing with a back four in a bid to get a stronger grip on the Dortmund attack. Both teams initially failed to pose a threat going forward in the second half. It was not until Freiburg created a chance following a corner around the hour mark that the Dortmund defence came under threat for the first time. At this point, BVB boss Enrico Maassen reacted with the first change of personnel and brought on Ted Tattermusch in attack. 

Tattermusch had barely stepped on to the turf before the ball was already in the Freiburg net again. Berkan Taz beat an opponent and curled the ball from the edge of the box on the left side into the top-right corner. Rather than then switching into game management mode, the Black & Yellows instead created more good chances for Tattermusch and Raschl.

BVB looked comfortable in the closing stages, dictating the tempo and repeatedly making a mark going forward. Shortly before the final whistle, there was another moment to celebrate as summer signing Abdoulaye Kamara made his U23 debut at the age of 16. Shortly afterwards the game was over, with BVB deservedly running out 5-2 winners – after Cebrail Makreckis had added a fifth goal to round off the scoring in the final moments.

BVB U23s: Unbehaun – Maloney, Pasalic (Makreckis, 63), Taz (Kamara, 87), Tachie, Bornemann (Tattermusch, 58), Pohlmann (Bah-Traore, 63), Finnsson, Pfanne, Pherai, Raschl

Goals: 1-0 Schade (13), 1-1 Pasalic (14), 1-2 Bornemann (16), 1-3 Tachie (21), 2-3 Schade (34), 2-4 Taz (60), 2-5 Makreckis (90)

Coming up next: 1. FC Saarbrücken will be the visitors to Stadion Rote Erde on Saturday (21/8). Kick-off is at 14:00 CET.