After two consecutive defeats in their previous two games, Borussia Dortmund's U23s won 3-0 (0-0) on Saturday afternoon against bottom-placed club TV Herkenrath. Leonardo Balerdi and Herbert Bockhorn scored for BVB. The other goal was an own goal.

The scenario:

After consecutive defeats against Rödinghausen and Cologne II, BVB went into the match under a certain amount of pressure not to fall into no man's land in the table. The visiting side from the Rhineland were concerned with picking up vital points in their battle to avoid the drop.

Personnel matters:

On-loan professional Balerdi was in the starting eleven once again. Massimo Ornatelli, Herbert Bockhorn, Denzeil Boadu and Gianluca Rizzo were rotated into the starting line-up. Marco Rente, who was injured last time out, was back in the squad and took up his place on the bench.

The first half

BVB were unable to get a hold on the game in the first 45 minutes. TV Herkenrath stood compactly in a 4-1-4-1 system and placed their faith in a secure defence and a rapid counterattacking game, virtues with which BVB were able to win against Düsseldorf, for example. BVB's attacking efforts were meagre in the first passage of play, with only Bockhorn (19') and Boyamba (28') approaching the visiting side's goal and getting shots off. BVB's best chance fell to Denzeil Boadu, whose shot from eight metres out was blocked (35').

TV Herkenrath had the better chances in the first half. Former Dortmund player Armin Pjetrovic hit the post with a headed effort (29'). Overall, the visitors from the Rhineland were well in the game, organised in defence and deservedly kept the score at 0-0 until halftime.

The second half

The second passage of play was much the better one in this match. After some initial difficulties and imprecision, the ball was stroked around much more fluently during the second lot of 45 minutes. Duman's effort was just off target in the 48' minute of play, and Boyamba also missed the woodwork by mere centimetres nine minutes later. The Rhineland men gave the Dortmund players cause for celebration in the 66' minute of play. An unfortunate header from defender Vatovci looped over his own goalkeeper and trickled into the goal. After the opening goal had been scored, things clicked for the Borussia boys. The strongest seven minutes of the game ensued. 

First, Leonardo Balerdi scored with his head from a corner for 2-0. In the 77' minute, Herbert Bockhorn put the game to bed when a thunderous strike found its way into Herkenrather's goal to seal a home win for BVB's U23s. An improved performance in the second half allowed BVB to take all three points and jump to sixth in the table. They are only six points off third place with eight games still to play.

BVB coach Alen Terzic said: 

"It was very difficult to play against Herkenrath today. The visiting side stood compactly in a 4-1-4-1 formation and the spaces in the final third were very tight. It was important for us to take the lead. We needed that opening goal, and it resolved a number of things. We were then able to advance up the pitch better with our combination play and ultimately it was a deserved win."

Coming up:

The U23s travel to Rot-Weiss Essen next week on Saturday. Kick-off is at 15:00 CET on Hafenstraße.

BVB U23s: Oelschlägel – Kilian (55' Bah-Traore), Konate, Balerdi, Schwermann - Bockhorn, Ornatelli (64' Baxmann), Boadu, Duman, Boyamba (85' Wanner) - Rizzo

Goals: 1-0 Vatovci (O.G.) (66'), 2-0 Balerdi (71'), Bockhorn (77')