Win in Borussia Duel: U23s defeat Gladbach 2-1

On the fourth matchday of this still youthful season, our U23s were scheduled to play their third home game already. Borussia Mönchengladbach's second string were the visiting side, who likewise had secured 7 points from their first three fixtures of the season. The Black and Yellows had made good use of the training week after the game against Rhynern according to trainer Jan Siewert, who declared: "Our preparation this week was very good, and we are looking forward to the match." Tactically speaking, little had changed since the previous week. Bah-Traore came into the starting eleven in place of the injured Park.

The guests from the Lower Rhine made the better start. BVB failed to get into their game, and for the most part were only dangerous on the counter. Gladbach hogged possession, though were unable to do something meaningful with it in front of Dominik Reimann's goal. To Beyhan Ametov fell the first dangerous situation, when he found himself completely free in front of goalkeeper Nicolas after receiving a pass from Patrick Pflücke, but could not control the ball and so did not get a shot off. The Black and Yellows were now growing into the game and had their next good chance after around 20 minutes. Pflücke initiated once again, but this time it was Oliver Steurer who had a shot blocked by an opposing defender. After what had been until that point an attractive game football, the two teams turned their attention to retaining the ball. The score stood at 0-0 as the two groups of men trudged into the dressing room. 

BVB make the better restart 

BVB were the team to make the better start after the break. Their eagerness had grown in intensity and they fought for every centimetre on the pitch, including in the 54' minute when they refused to give up on a ball already lost in the opposition's penalty box, and so reclaimed possession. Herbert Bockhorn capped off their efforts with the goal to give them a well deserved 1-0 lead. However, they were unable to maintain their advantage for long. After BVB were forced to play with ten men temporarily due to injury, Mönchengladbach capitalised on a hole in Dortmund's defence to equalise, 1-1. Bah-Traore was the man who had picked up a knock, and could no longer carry on. Alongside Too-Ho Park, he is now the second injured full back in Jan Siewert's squad. Philipp Hanke came on in his place. Herbert Bockhorn filled in at left-back.

The Black and Yellows did not let the equaliser get to them, rather continued to play expansively going forward. Jan Siewert decided to alter his offence, brining on new signing Kampetsis for Janni Serra. Around 1500 spectators were present for the event, which was becoming more exciting and attractive by the minute. Patrick Pflücke ushered in the last quarter hour of the encounter with a free-kick, though the subsequent header by Michael Eberwein was an easy take for the Gladbach keeper. This soon proved, nonetheless, to be the catalyst for our U23s. After strong build up play by Philipp Hanke down the right had side, Beyhan Ametov stroked the ball home over the line to take the game to a deserved 2-1.

BVB continued to set the pace, and had the opportunity 10 minutes before time to put the game to bed. Michael Eberwein, however, missed a penalty, and so the game entered its final minutes with the score still at 2-1. Just before the end of the fixture, new signing Abdelmajid Bouali came on to make his debut. BVB prevented the guests from getting into dangerous positions in front of their own goal, so that the game reached its conclusion with the 2-1 scoreline intact.

"We played a really great game"

BVB Trainer Jan Siewert was naturally very satisfied after the match: "We played a really great game. I am happy that we could turn the match once more after the equaliser." Dan-Axel Zagadou of the senior team also seemed satisfied having watched the encounter from the stands, and then applauded all the players standing at the hoardings – a nice gesture. The U23s now have a lengthy break, as the next Regional League match takes place on 09 September in the Rote Erde stadium at 14:00 CEST against Rödinghausen.
Timo Lammert