The European adventure is over: Borussia's U19s unluckily lost their UEFA Youth League play-off tie away to MSK Zilina by a 2-1 scoreline. The winning goal came in the 89th minute. BVB actually led 1-0 at the break thanks to a goal from Paris Brunner, only for the Slovaks to score the equaliser in the 48th minute.

The two teams delivered a breathtaking and entertaining attacking spectacle in front of 10,451 spectators. BVB, who were supported by 300 travelling fans and set up perfectly by Mike Tullberg, created a raft of great chances but spurned them one after another. The home team delivered a strong battling display and celebrated their goalkeeper Jakub Badzgon, who ensured the victory by making a stunning save to keep out a Samuel Bamba shot from close range in stoppage time.

For the Borussia players, it was a bitter defeat. Because the lads led by captain Kjell Wätjen made a good start to the match and set the tone for long spells. In the first half in particular, they succeeded in effectively playing through the first line of the opposition's press, bypassing the midfield in direct fashion, using the spaces and creating dangerous counters via the quick Samuel Bamba.

They also defended aggressively and courageously for a long time. Zilina resorted to long-range shots in a bid to beat goalkeeper Robin Lisewski. The Slovaks mostly posed a threat via set-piece situations. One such instance came in the 38th minute when the defence allowed Frantisek Kosa to escape and Lisewski was forced to make a stunning save to claw his header away from the corner. But by then, Borussia should have been well ahead.

The Black & Yellows already had the first chance in the third minute when Danylo Krevsun set the nimble Samuel Bamba in motion but he rushed his shot and fired straight into the arms of Badzgon. The action continued on an almost minutely basis. Paris Brunner, Vincenzo Onofrietti, Samuel Bamba and Kjell Wätjen were all either too imprecise with their shots, dawdled on the ball or were made to despair by the marvellous Badzgon in the Zilina goal.

Good chances not converted

It was only on the stroke of half-time that Paris Brunner converted one of the opportunities to score the overdue opening goal at the second attempt following Samuel Bamba's cross. The carelessness in the opposition penalty area proved costly right at the start of the second half, however, after Dortmund's defence failed to intervene decisively; Lisewski could only tip the ball away after a shot from Timotej Hranica and goalscorer Vladimir Vaco headed home for 1-1.

The Borussia players then increased their attacking pressure, upped the offensive tempo and continued to create clear opportunities, but the finishes from Paris Brunner and Samuel Bamba in particular did not find the back of the net. One such example came in the 70th minute when Brunner fed Bamba, who went clean through on the opposition goal, but Zilina's shot-stopper made a save with his foot to stop his team falling behind again.

At the other end, the Slovaks remained a real threat on the counter-attack. U21 international Sauer showed his qualities on several occasions and was thwarted by Lisewski in the 86th minute. As the temperamental crowd began to prepare themselves for penalties, Zilina struck. Leonardo Posadas underhit a clearance and substitute Michal Pekelsky capitalised with an unstoppable low shot.

BVB can now focus their full attention on the A-Junior Bundesliga West and the defence of their West German championship title. Their next opponents will be Wuppertaler SV on Sunday (kick-off at 11:00 CET at the Youth Performance Centre).

U19s: Lisewski – Rashidi, Meiser, Posadas, Korzynietz (Benkara, 90) – Lubach, Wätjen (Ubani, 90) – Onofrietti, (Kabar, 75), Krevsun, Bamba – Brunner
(wiwi)