The Borussia Dortmund U23s lost 1-0 to third-placed SV Rödinghausen in a low-quality Regionalliga encounter on Friday evening, with the visitors scoring the only goal of the game from a corner kick on the 85-minute mark.

The scenario:
The U23s had made a bright start to 2019, taking four points from their first two matches, and went into this game in fourth spot with 39 points. The visitors from Rödinghausen, meanwhile, had been defeated in both their Regionalliga games this calendar year but were above BVB in third by virtue of their superior goal difference.

Personnel matters:
Philipp Hanke, Jonas Hupe, Leon Burggraf, Marco Hober, Julian Schwermann and Denzeil Boadu were all sidelined with various injuries, although Luca Kilian returned to the squad after serving a suspension.

The first half:
Haymenn Bah-Traore returned to the starting XI for the first time in 342 days. And it was the 21-year-old, who had previously showcased his skills on the right flank in two brief cameo appearances against Wiedenbrück and Düsseldorf, who set up the first opportunity for the Black & Yellows on the 10-minute mark. Unfortunately, however, his pass to Joseph Boyamba was slightly overhit and Heimann in the Rödinghausen goal comfortably gathered the ball.

There were few noteworthy incidents in the period that ensued as both teams tried to keep things tight and take few risks. The game was half an hour old before the visitors had their first moment of danger, although BVB custodian Eric Oelschlägel did well to thwart Franz Pfanne's attempt. That opportunity aside, chances in the first period were few and far between and the opening 45 minutes ended goalless.

The second half:
Chances initially continued to be at a premium after the restart. The around 1,000 spectators in attendance witnessed a poor Regionalliga match in which both teams were focused on defending solidly and therefore gave little away. Then, with five minutes to go, the visitors scored out of the blue when Fabian Kunze won the aerial battle following a corner and headed home the winner.

BVB coach Alen Terzic threw caution to the wind in the closing stages, handing the fit-again Kempes Tekiela his comeback in the dying minutes. But their final attacking efforts brought nothing in the way of a return and the score remained 1-0 to the visitors until the final whistle.

The reaction from BVB coach Alen Terzic:
"I think that we really struggled in the first period. We didn't manage to find the open spaces. Rödinghausen defended in a very disciplined fashion, although we did create two or three goalscoring opportunities in the second half. We weren't dangerous enough in front of goal today. Losing the match through a set-piece is a tough one for us to take."

Outlook:
The U23s are next in action away to Wuppertaler SV next Saturday. Kick-off at the Stadium am Zoo is at 14:00 CET.

BVB U23s: Oelschlägel – Bah-Traore (Wanner, 70), Kilian, Konate, Rente, Bockhorn – Ornatelli (Tekiela, 86), Duman, Gómez (Sechelmann, 70) – Boyamba, Rizzo
Goal: 0-1 Kunze (85)