U19s book spot in Youth League last 16 with 5-3 win in Empoli

Mike Tullberg's boys earned the win with a very strong second-half performance in what was an intense and turbulent match. Five different players scored the goals: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Julian Rijkhoff, Bradley Fink, Lion Semic and Leonardo Pezzola, who put the ball into his own net to draw Dortmund level at 2-2.

The Black & Yellows settled into the game well following some tentative opening exchanges, attacking mainly down the left flank via Tom Rothe, who looked very lively going forward. The full-back, who joined Dortmund from FC St. Pauli last summer, delivered a precise cross after Soumaila Coulibaly had done brilliantly to initiate the move and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, timing his run into the danger zone to perfection, opened the scoring for his side (15). But the joy was short-lived, with Empoli equalising with a fortuitous effort after Luca Magazzu was afforded too much space (16).

The goal proved to be a turning point, especially as Abdoulaye Kamara, who was playing well in midfield, sustained an injury after a foul and had to be substituted in the 27th minute. BVB looked disorganised in defence and allowed Magazzu to make it 2-1. But the team has learned by now not to let setbacks throw them off course and were duly rewarded with the equaliser before the break. After another good cross came in from Rothe, Leonardo Pezzola was put under pressure by Bradley Fink and headed the ball into his own goal (41). The half-time whistle sounded with the score 2-2.

Lion Semic makes immediate impact

Mike Tullberg tweaked the tactical approach at the interval, which set the course for victory. Lion Semic came on for Nnamdi Collins, and Göktan Gürpüz moved into central midfield. And these changes made an impact, as a fine move involving Bynoe-Gittens, Semic and Gürpüz culminated in Julian Rijkhoff making it 3-2 (57). It was the Dutchman's 18th goal in 22 competitive matches for BVB. The Black & Yellows, who looked much more structured in the second half, struck again five minutes later: Gürpüz took a corner and Rothe struck the underside of the crossbar with a powerful header. Fink reacted as quick as a flash and tapped the ball over the line (63). 

The home side's resistance was now more or less broken, and the lively Semic increased the lead to 5-2 in the 77th minute. The goal was teed up by a long pass from Bradley Fink, with Semic moving the ball across from his right to his left foot and firing an unstoppable effort into the net. BVB, who also improved significantly at the back in the second half, limited Empoli to a late consolation from Filippo Panicucci in the 86th minute.

The match reactions

Lars Ricken "This intense and great game showed why the UEFA Youth League is so important for the club and the development of our youngsters. The boys had to go to their limit and show their resilience after going behind. They responded superbly – also to Mike Tullberg's tactical and personnel changes – and deserved to win in the end."

Mike Tullberg: "We started the game well and scored a nice goal to make it 1-0 but had some problems defensively in our 3-5-2 formation. We couldn't prevent the equaliser at 1-1; the goal for 2-1 was the result of a big mistake. I switched it around after 25 minutes and knew that I had an important player up my sleeve in Lion Semic. The plan with the two key players on the flanks, Lion Semic and Tom Rothe, came off. We deserved to go through against an opponent that was not easy, and Borussia have reached the last 16 for only the second time. The boys can be proud of that."

BVB: Ostrzinski – Collins (Semic, 46), Coulibaly, Kleine-Bekel, Rothe – Kamara (Walz, 27), Lütke-Frie – Bynoe-Gittens (Mengot, 70), Rijkhoff (El-Zein, 89), Gürpüz –Fink.

Wilfried Wittke