U23s lose 4-2 in Wiesbaden | OneFootball

The scenario: The U23s had lost their last two games: away in Aue (2-1) and at home to the Hannover 96 U23s (4-0). Dortmund were 15th in the table before the matchday and still had everything in their own hands in the battle to stay in the 3. Liga. SV Wehen Wiesbaden were also not fully clear of the relegation battle heading into the clash with the Black & Yellows.

Personnel matters: Coach Jan Zimmermann made five changes to his starting XI from the side that lost at home to Hannover. Filippo Mane, Ayman Azhil, Tony Reitz and Almugera Kabar came into the team for Niklas Jessen (injured), António Fóti, Paul-Philipp Besong and David Lelle (all of whom moved to the bench). Silas Ostrzinski replaced Marcel Lotka in goal.

The match: SV Wehen Wiesbaden endeavoured to control the match early on against a committed Dortmund side. The U23s initially had their problems contending with the hosts, who pressed high up the pitch. After BVB lost possession in build-up play, the ball ended up at the feet of Nikolas Agrafiotis in the penalty area. The striker's shot from a central position was well saved by Silas Ostrzinski (3).

Early on the Black & Yellows concentrated primarily on defending and looking to hit their opponents on the counter, though any opportunities they did have to do so were undone by poor execution. Dortmund did not register their first shot until the 23rd minute. However, Tony Reitz's attempt from around 25 metres was too tame to trouble the Wiesbaden keeper. Down the other end, Ostrzinsk was called to action again to save Tarik Gözüsirin's shot following a counter-attack (24).

In the 30th minute, Julian Hettwer suddenly had a big chance to give BVB the lead. In space near the edge of the area, the BVB striker fired a curling effort narrowly wide of the target. This near miss for BVB sent a warning signal to the home side, who stepped up their game in response and pressed hard for the opener. Bätzner (34) and Agrafiotis (37) were both denied by Ostrzinski. Shortly afterwards, however, Dortmund's goalkeeper was left with no chance. Thijmen Goppel played the ball into the area, where Ryan Johansson was lurking near the penalty spot. His uncomplicated first-time finish made it 1-0 to the home side. Filippo Mane had to be substituted with an injury before the break. Patrick Göbel came on to replace him.

The Black & Yellows came out of the dressing room transformed and got off to a dream start. Only a few seconds had passed when Wehen defender Fabian Greilinger cleared Eberwein's effort on the line. The subsequent corner then led to the equaliser, with Ben Hüning scoring on the follow-up after Franz Roggow's header hit the crossbar.

The equaliser only spurred the U23s on even more. Kjell Wätjen broke into the penalty area down the left flank. After his first attempt was blocked, he got the ball back and shot from nine metres towards the near post to make it 2-1 to BVB (49). BVB had turned the match on its head with two goals in quick succession.

After shaking themselves down, Wehen looked to get forward again - with success. Gözüsirin finished off a slick attack down the left side to make it 2-2 (57).

However, Dortmund were not deterred by this and took up the fight. A battle unfolded, with the tackles flying in amidst a high level of intensity. But it was Wehen who took control of the game in the final phase and managed to get forward with more conviction. However, the U23 defence successfully resisted SVWW's attacks - until the 81st minute. Following a foul by Michael Eberwein in the penalty area, referee Daniel Bartnitzki pointed to the spot. Fatih Kaya stepped up to convert the penalty and make it 3-2.

Ostrzinski came out on top in a one-on-one with Kaya in the 85th minute, meaning BVB held hopes of claiming a point until the very end. But another converted penalty to make it 4-2 after a handball by Göbel put the result beyond doubt in time added on.

Coach Jan Zimmermann: "The boys gave it their all. They didn't do everything right, but they gave it their all. The attitude was totally right. We were too tense at the start and deservedly fell behind. But when you come out of the dressing room and turn the game around, that speaks volumes for the lads. In the end, we couldn't get the lead over the line."

Franz Roggow: "We didn't get into the game well. It wasn't good enough in the first half. We upped the volume at the break. We came out of the dressing room really well, you don't get relegated with a mentality like that. But after going 2-1 up we conceded stupid goals. Squandering a 2-1 lead in Wiesbaden really hurts. We know there's a final against Stuttgart next week. There's real pressure on us."

Outlook: Next Friday (9 May), the Dortmund U23s will face a direct rival for relegation when they host their counterparts at VfB Stuttgart at the Rote Erde stadium. Kick-off is at 19:00 CEST. Zimmermann will have to make do without Yannick Lührs, as the centre-back picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Wiesbaden.