1:2 in Düsseldorf: BVB lose friendly to third-tier side | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund return from Düsseldorf with a defeat. BVB lost 2-1 (0-1) to Fortuna, who were relegated from the second division, in front of 23,300 spectators. The visitors, who fielded many players from the U23 and U19 squads, took a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes through Albert. Schleusener (50') and Slimani (79') turned the game around after the break.

BVB lined up with a very young team against the third-division side. With goalkeeper Meyer and centre-forward Guirassy, Niko Kovac named two experienced exceptions in his starting XI.

The Bundesliga side controlled the match in the opening minutes. But Fortuna also moved the ball well. The first chance came from a free-kick by Guirassy, who fired wide to the right of the Düsseldorf goal from 25 metres in the ninth minute.

After 20 minutes, Albert put the Black and Yellows ahead – with significant help from the home side. The 17-year-old American latched onto a long ball from Meyer. Düsseldorf keeper Rieß rushed out at him too hastily, allowing the winger to casually roll the ball into the empty net.

The Rhineland side struggled to get in front of the BVB goal. In the 38th minute, Heintz rose for a header, but Meyer gathered the ball at the second attempt. After 44 minutes, Duarte had to go off injured. Bellingham took his place.

No Dortmund players left on the bench

At the break, Kovac rang the changes. Only Bellingham, who had come on shortly before half-time, remained in the team.

It started well for the hosts. In the 50th minute, Heintz flicked on a free-kick cross toward the left post. From close range and a tight angle, Schleusener hammered the ball high into the net under the crossbar to make it 1-1.

Fortuna were now well in the game. Huge chance to make it 2-1 in the 62nd minute: former BVB player Paulina got his shot away from just outside the box after a counterattack. The deflected effort flashed just past the right post. Paulina was also involved again in the 74th minute, when he narrowly missed the target once more.

Another injury-enforced substitution followed: in the 78th minute, Benkara slowly left the pitch. Wessels came on. That left Dortmund’s bench completely empty.

Photo: IMAGO

Düsseldorf’s lead had been coming. In the 79th minute, Eixler, who appeared to be offside, squared the ball perfectly for Slimani, who finished low into the right corner from nine metres to make it 2-1.

The injury-hit visitors offered little going forward in the second half. It was not until stoppage time that BVB had a chance to make it 2-2. But Rieß reacted quickly to push Inácio’s header off the goal line (90+2').

Conclusion: Düsseldorf celebrated a deserved 2-1 win in their final tough test before the league opener against Waldhof Mannheim on 7 August. BVB relied mainly on young talent and fielded only a few first-team players. After a good first half from Dortmund, Fortuna took control after the break.

BVB (1st half): Meyer – Riedl, Gadou, Mané, Kabar – Mirza, Duarte (44' Bellingham), Azhil – Yamamoto, Albert – Guirassy

BVB (2nd half): Drewes – Benkara (78' Wessels), Reggiani, Ritter – Yan Couto, Bellingham, Lerma, Adje – Faust, Inácio – Fábio Silva

Goals: 0:1 Albert (20'), 1:1 Schleusener (50'), 2:1 Slimani (79')

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