U23's fine run continues | OneFootball

Match context

Dortmund’s U23 did not have much time to recover. After a 4-1 win over Fulham FC in the Premier League International Cup during the week, the next away fixture was already on the schedule: VfB Hilden, who, as a newly promoted side, had also started the season strongly and were still unbeaten after four matchdays.

Rios’s team had most recently claimed a 3-1 win in Bergisch Gladbach. Despite the heavy workload, the BVB coach did not see the busy week as a handicap. “It is part of the players’ development that they deliver their performance week after week – not only in the Premier League International Cup, but also in the league,” Rios had said before the match.

Line-up

Compared with the 3-1 league win at SV Bergisch Gladbach, Rios made two changes to his starting eleven. Kevin Mutove and Daniel Sumbu came in for Bennedikt Wüstenhagen and Fadi Zarqelain.

Match summary

Borussia made the better start and had the better chances in the opening 15 minutes. However, the Black-and-Yellows’ finishing lacked a real cutting edge. In the 26th minute, Connor Krempicki tried his luck from the edge of the box, but his shot flew over the hosts’ goal. Hilden defended attentively and allowed very little.

Shortly before half-time, things became dangerous twice in quick succession: after a mistake in Hilden’s central defence, Kevin Mutove won the ball, rounded the goalkeeper, but lost his balance and sent his finish over the bar as he fell (42’). Just a minute later, Dortmund did better. Mutove battled past several opponents on the edge of the area and fired into the left corner to give Dortmund a 1-0 lead at the break.

After the restart, Hilden made the slightly better start, but Dortmund were solid defensively and allowed very little. At the other end, the U23 had good chances to extend their lead. First, Arne Wessels was played in on the inside-left after a strong transition move, but placed his shot just wide of the goal (57’). Only a minute later, Wessels was involved again: Sumbu was sent through down the right and picked out his teammate at the far post. However, Nick Sangl blocked the effort. Ayman Azhil also tried from distance, but missed the target.

Hilden’s biggest chance to equalise came in the 69th minute. Pascal Weber was sent through on the right and squared for Mohamed Cisse, who could only hit the post. Weber’s follow-up was blocked by Jesper Verlaat, and the Black-and-Yellows were then able to clear the danger.

In the closing stages, Dortmund grew stronger again and pushed for the decider. After a pass from Joseph Boyamba, Wüstenhagen was denied by the Hilden goalkeeper. Things turned bitter in the 86th minute when Wessels received his second yellow card after a shove and had to leave the pitch. Down to ten men, the U23 defended their narrow lead with great determination. In the 90th minute, Silas Ostrzinski produced a superb reflex save from close range. Four minutes later, Wüstenhagen finally put the game to bed: after a wonderful solo run from deep, the Dortmund player kept his cool in front of goal and slotted the ball into the far corner to make it 2-0.

Outlook

Once again, the U23 do not have much time to recover. Their next Regionalliga match is already scheduled for Tuesday, 1 September. Daniel Rios’s side will then host FC Schalke 04 U23 in the little Ruhr derby. Kick-off at Stadion Rote Erde is at 19:30.

U23:

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.