U23s hit woodwork three times in defeat at Erndtebrück

It was clear what the two teams were aiming for going into this game: the hosts were battling for survival, while BVB were looking to keep up with the leading pack. The visitors started the match in a way that befitted those ambitions, with Patrick Mainka having the first opportunity with a header from a Pflücke free-kick on two minutes. The ball, however, sailed almost a metre over the crossbar of Erndtebrück custodian Niklas Jakusch's goal. The next chance did not come until the 20th minute, when BVB managed to carve open another opportunity – but Pflücke's shot from 25 minutes lacked power. The match moved up a gear in the period that followed.

BVB began to look more and more dangerous, with shots from Pavlidis (28) and Dieckmann (31) narrowly missing the target, and they came even closer in the 35th minute when Dieckmann and Hanke dovetailed brilliantly only for Herbert Bockhorn to strike the upright. The very best chance, however, came in the 38th minute when Massimo Ornatelli missed a penalty, his effort rebounding off the woodwork. The spot-kick was awarded for a foul on David Sauerland, who had been picked out in the penalty area by Herbert Bockhorn. At that stage, a Borussia Dortmund lead would have been deserved – especially as Hanke missed another good chance on 43 minutes. The visitors only really threatened from set-pieces, with their shots posing little danger. The score was goalless at the break.

The second period got off to a nightmarish start. With BVB exercising complete control over the match, the visitors broke the deadlock completely against the run of play when Yuki Nishiya benefited from a misplaced pass from Haymenn Bah-Traore and beat Dominik Reimann on the 58-minute mark. Coach Jan Siewert reacted to the goal by bringing on another attacking player in Beyhan Ametov, with Bah-Traore the man replaced and Sören Dieckmann filling his place in the back four. Having taken the lead, Erndtebrück had much more of the ball and gradually began to set the tone. BVB, meanwhile, looked slightly uncertain and lacking confidence on the ball. Siewert made a second substitution, bringing on Jonas Arweiler for Pflücke to inject a bit more pace into the attack. But there was to be another setback with around 20 minutes remaining, as Marco Rente headed home to double the home side's lead from a corner.

Siewiert's third and final change came with 12 minutes left on the clock. Centre-forward Balint Bajner was the man called into action, and in the 82nd minute he had an excellent chance to halve the deficit but, having outmanoeuvred his opponent with a turn, he struck the upright and the ball sailed out of play. Towards the end, the Black & Yellows were lacking penetration in the final third and the score remained 2-0 to the hosts until the referee eventually blew the final whistle.

The U23s are next in action on Tuesday, when they visit SV Rödinghausen (kick-off 19:30 CET).
Timo Lammert