The Borussia Dortmund women’s football team have suffered a 2-1 defeat to Niederrheinliga outfit Borussia Mönchengladbach 2 in their first pre-season friendly. Vanessa Kuhl scored the only goal for the Landesliga side, who had five new signings making their debuts in a BVB shirt.

New signings Hannah Geldschläger, Lisa Gomulka and Merle Greulich started against the higher-division Borussia Mönchengladbach reserves. In an even first period, Gomulka and Mandy Reinhardt spurned opportunities to put the Black & Yellows ahead with a long-range shot (11) and a volley (19) respectively. The post and a spectacular save from Sandra Schröer then stopped them falling behind (28). But the opener did come shortly before the break when Emily-Marie Guyens capitalised on an error in Dortmund’s build-up play to put the visitors ahead.

BVB coach Thomas Sulewski made eight changes at the break, with two more Borussia newcomers – Katharina Jäger and Danelle Tan – making their debuts. The equaliser came in the 63rd minute when Vanessa Kuhl fired an unstoppable long-range effort into the top right corner. The game remained even with chances on both sides. Marie Grothe could have put her team ahead twice (67, 76). At the other end, goalkeeper Jäger demonstrated her qualities with outstanding saves.

The winning goal for the Verbandsliga outfit came seven minutes from time, with Lenny van Grotel scoring on the follow-up to put the Gladbach ladies 2-1 in front. “It was a very good game from a newly assembled team with lots of positional tests. We’re very satisfied with it. Defeats are never nice, but praise to Gladbach who played very good football,” said Sulewski in the wake of the first 90 minutes of pre-season.

The next friendly will be away to Alemannia Aachen on Sunday 30 July. Kick-off against the Regionalliga club at the Tivoli will be at 15:00 CET.

BVB women: Schröer (Jäger, 46) – Hentrich (Greulich, 67), Jung (Rechenbach, 46), Haslsteiner (Glänzer, 46), Geldschläger (Klemann, 46) – Gomulka (Becker, 46) – Greulich (Lau, 46), Grothe, Herper (Bedarf, 46), Kuhl (Gomulka, 67) – Reinhardt (Tan, 46)

Goals: 0-1 Guyens (39), 1-1 Kuhl (63), 1-2 van Grotel (83)

(df)