The Borussia U17s also overcame the big challenge posed by RW Oberhausen and continued their winning streak with a 1-0 triumph at the RWO Youth Performance Centre. “It got really close again at the end. We’re happy with these three points in a game that was unpleasant in the second half,” said coach Marco Lehmann.

The team paid a high price for the victory, however. Because Ousmane Diallo, who is increasingly settling into his stride, got his boot stuck in the turf in the 42nd minute and went off with an injury. Up until that point, BVB had dominated the game with a high share of the possession, forced RWO onto the defensive and not given away a chance to the opposition. At the other end, the Black & Yellows squandered several chances and only found the net once: Ousmane Diallo broke through down the flank and passed to Fritz Fleck, who provided the assist for Nick Cherny to put his team into a highly deserved 1-0 lead in the 39th minute. Justin Hoy also struck the post following a lovely move involving Fritz Fleck and Nick Cherny.

Diallo was replaced by Oliwer Blaszczyk, who has just recovered from an injury, and the balance of play on the pitch shifted. Oberhausen grew increasingly courageous, while the Dortmund lads struggled to defend the long balls and got themselves into several dangerous situations as a result. In addition, they did not finish off their counter-attacks. Cherny and Len Wörsdörfer were denied by the good reactions of RWO custodian Lennox Kappler.

Game against RW Essen at Stadion Rote Erde

“We had little control in the second period. It was a hard-fought game but one that we deserved to win,” reflected Marco Lehmann, who has another absence to contend with in Oskar Schwarz.

The U17s will play their rescheduled fixture away to MSV Duisburg on Wednesday and could reduce the gap to the summit to two points with a win. They will face RW Essen in their final home game of the year – at Stadion Rote Erde, as an exception – at 11:00 CET on Sunday.

U17s: Herdes – Cena, Benkara, Meiser, Degener – Kaba, Hoy – Fleck, Cherny – Wörsdörfer, Diallo (Blaszczyk, 43)
(wiwi)