In the penultimate away match of the season, Borussia Dortmund's U23s team carved out a deserved 3-1 away win at promotion aspirants 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Bradley Fink, Justin Njinmah and Immanuel Pherai scored for the Black & Yellows.

The opponent: The hosts had only lost one home game all season. After a run of six games unbeaten, coach Marco Antwerpen's team suffered a bitter 2-1 defeat at Wehen Wiesbaden last weekend. Direct promotion is now out of the Palatinate side's hands, as their closest rivals Braunschweig have a game in hand.

Personnel matters: BVB coach Enrico Maassen kept an unchanged starting eleven compared to the goalless draw against Halle.

How the game went: The hosts started with a lot of pressure and enjoyed the first good opportunity after only two minutes, Philipp Hercher tested Luca Unbehaun after a corner with a header. But the Black & Yellows played courageously and came close twice with shots from Guille Bueno in the 8th minute and Richmond Tachie four minutes later. Kolbeinn Finnsson's long-range shot was even closer, forcing Matheo Raab into a brilliant save after 22 minutes.

FCK only proved dangerous from set pieces. After a Wunderlich corner, Luca Unbehaun brilliantly held Hanslik's powerful header on his goal line. After 32 minutes, the young Dortmund side were rewarded with the 1-0 lead: Christian Viet left three opponents trailing in his wake on the right side and found Bradley Fink three metres in front of goal, who was able to score the deserved opening goal.

Borussia enjoyed more possession in the first half and dominated the action in front of a crowd of almost 50,000 at the Fritz Walter Stadium. BVB went into the half-time break with a 1-0 lead after a strong first half showing. BVB emerged from the dressing room with no changes in personnel and went straight onto the attack. Justin Njinmah easily left his opponent behind him and played a fierce ball into the centre, where Bradley Fink just missed the target.

It was even closer when Richmond Tachie had a great chance, but failed in a duel with Matheo Raab who saved with his feet. It was preceded by a dream pass from Immanuel Pherai between the home side's central defenders. On the hour mark, Immanuel Pherai whipped in a corner sharply in front of goal and Raab was on hand with his fists but straight to Justin Njinmah, who slotted home from close range.

As a result, the hosts enjoyed more possession of the ball again, made a few attacking substitutes and had to take more risks. The Black & Yellows defended with a lot of passion and waited for counterattacks using the fast offensive players. Immanuel Pherai completed one of these counter-attacks in the 81st minute to make it 3-0. The game was decided, even if the hosts were able to reduce the deficit to 1-3 through Götze in injury time.

BVB sealed victory against the team with the best home record in the league and scored three goals against the best defence in the league. The trip to the Palatinate proved very worthwhile, and the club record of 46 points in a single season was also extended today.

BVB U23s: Unbehaun, Bueno, Maloney, Tachie (85 Bafounta), Finnsson, Viet (85 Bah-Traore), Njinmah (79 Pohlmann), Pfanne, Pherai (85 Taz), Dams, Fink (61 Tattermusch)

Goals: 0-1 Fink (32), 0-2 Njinmah (60), 0-3 Pherai (81)

Outlook: Next Friday, Borussia Dortmund U23s will host SC Verl for the last home match of the season. Kick-off at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK is at 19:00 CET.