It was a spectacle at the Aachen Tivoli. After an intense 90 minutes, Borussia Dortmund's U23 and home side Alemannia shared a 3-3 draw. BVB had earlier retrieved a 0-2 deficit and even took a 3-2 lead.

The scenario before the game: After the Wuppertal game, BVB went into the match against Alemannia in good spirits. After falling 1-0 behind, Tullberg’s side won 3-1. Aachen began the new year with a defeat at TuS Haltern.

Personnel matters: BVB coach Mike Tullberg made only one change from the Wuppertal game. Julian Schwermann replaced Leonardo Balerdi, who was in the first-team squad against Union Berlin. Luca Unbehaun continued in goal, while Mateu Morey and Tobi Raschl returned from first-team squad duties.  

Match analysis: Heavy morning rain had stopped just before kick-off but both sides began cautiously on the slippery turf. Around 4,800 fans - including 40 hand counted from BVB - had turned up expecting an intensive Regional league game. The hosts scored from their first scoring opportunity after only three minutes with André Wallenborn putting Alemannia into an early lead from a corner. It was the worst possible start for BVB, falling behind again at the start, just like in the last game against WSV. And unfortunately, things did not get any better. Aachen were enjoying a great start and doubled their lead in the 17th minute. Sebastian Schmitt scored Aachen’s second from close range, taking advantage of a Dortmund defensive error.

Tobi Raschl pulls one back

BVB coach Mike Tullberg reacted and brought on Taylan Duman for Kolbeinn Finnsson after only 24 minutes. BVB took a more daring approach and were rewarded with a goal from their first real scoring chance to pull one back at 2-1. Tobi Raschl found a gap in the Aachen back line and found a way past goalkeeper Cymer with a remarkable shot from distance. And things got even better! Less than three minutes later, the game was all level again at 2-2 after an own goal by Marco Müller. After an intense opening half-hour, both teams took a little time out, and went into half-time break tied at 2-2.

BVB made a single change at the break with Maximilian Hippe coming on for Mateu Morey. The start to the second half was also rather forgettable from a BVB point of view. Rente shoved Schmitt to the ground in the penalty area, and referee Holz gave a penalty. However, Luca Unbehaun made a good save from the resultant penalty kick from Boesen. BVB grew into the game and completed their comeback after an hour. Captain Joseph Boyamba put BVB into the lead for the first time from Steffen Tigges’s assist.  

A deserved point 

Defensively, BVB were now much more solid and hardly allowed a goalscoring chance. Alemannia enjoyed more possession of the ball, but could not create much danger on Luca Unbehaun's goal. When Aachen did muster up a shot, it was usually from long-range. And so, it came as it had to come: Aachen's Florian Rüter smashed one in from the edge of the penalty area into the top right corner with a “Goal of the Month” contender. The game was all square again. Immediately after, Steffen Tigges almost made it 4-3 but Aachen’s goalkeeper saved. A crazy game ended 3-3. In the end, BVB definitely earned the point and with a bit of luck, it would have been three.

Outlook: Next Saturday afternoon, the U23s face promoted TuS Haltern. Kick-off at the ‘Rote Erde’ Stadium is at 3 p.m.

BVB U23: Unbehaun - Schwermann, Rente, Bünning - Morey (46 Hippe), Raschl, Hober (86 Tunga), Führich, Finnsson (24 Duman) - Boyamba, Tigges

Goals: 1:0 Wallenborn (3.), 2:0 Schmitt (17.), 2:1 Raschl (26.), 2:2 Müller own goal (28.), 2:3 Boyamba (61.), 3:3 Rüter (82.)

Special mention: Unbehaun saved Boesen’s penalty (52.)