In a crazy Regional league game, the U23 teams of Fortuna Duesseldorf and Borussia Dortmund shared the spoils in a 3-3 (2-0) draw. BVB retrieved a 0-3 deficit within a 15-minute second half spell and earned the point on the back of a committed performance in the second half.

The scenario before the game: BVB remain unbeaten in calendar year 2020. The same can be said about Duesseldorf who have played out two draws. The upward trend is clearly noticeable for the Black & Yellows, who put in a very strong performance against Haltern at times.

Personnel matters: BVB coach Mike Tullberg made only one change to the side that beat Haltern at home last time out. Luca Unbehaun made his third Regional league appearance of the season, coming in for Eric Oelschlägel.

The match: BVB wanted to get off to a better start in their fourth game of the year than they did in their previous three games. But at Fortuna Duesseldorf the opponent again enjoyed the better start to the game. After Marco Hober lost the ball in midfield, the Rhinelanders played the ball forward down the right-hand side, before the ball was laid into the path of Kevin Hagemann who opened the scoring from near the penalty spot, leaving Luca Unbehaun no chance in the Dortmund goal.  

After 20 minutes, Marco Hober also enjoyed Dortmund's first good offensive action when his long-range shot from around 20 yards narrowly flashed past the left post. Just as BVB was starting to gain a foothold in the game, Fortuna doubled their lead. Leander Goralski rose the highest from a free kick and nodded in to make it 2-0 from close range. The “Borussen” were reeling at this stage and Luca Unbehaun twice had to make sensational saves in one on one situations in the 30th and 34th minutes. But shortly before half-time, the hosts gifted BVB a penalty when the goalscorer Goralski sent Joseph Boyamba flying. However, Chris Führich could not convert the penalty.

After the break, the game at first took on a similar pattern. BVB enjoyed more possession of the ball, but it was Fortuna who carved out the better goalscoring chances. Soon Duesseldorf made it 3-0 from a set piece. Dortmund had finally woken up by this stage and pushed Fortuna into their own half. Chris Führich was able to reduce the arrears to 1-3 after an assist from Taylan Duman. BVB ramped up the pressure and had an opportunity to pull another goal back just after the hour mark but the strong Duesseldorf goalkeeper kept Chris Führich’s shot out.  

Taylan Duman enjoyed more success scoring from five yards out. The Black & Yellows played themselves into a frenzy and scored the equaliser just three minutes later. Chris Führich got the better of Duesseldorf’s keeper for the second time and tie the game up at 3-3. As a result, BVB was on the verge of turning the game completely on its head, but Duesseldorf defended for their lives and managed not to concede any more goals. In the end, both teams shared a 3-3 draw and BVB remain unbeaten over the course of four games in 2020.

Outlook: Next Saturday BVB’s U23 side travel to play VFB Homberg at 14:00 CET.

BVB U23: Unbehaun – Hippe, Rente, Bünning, Finnsson (46. Wanner) – Duman, Raschl, Hober – Boyamba (90. Ruprecht), Tigges, Führich

Goals: 1:0 Hagemann (9.), 2:0 Goralski (23.), 3:0 Wegner (49.), 3:1 Führich (51.), 3:2 Duman (63.), 3:3 Führich (66.)

Notable plays: Führich misses a penalty (43.)