The Borussia Dortmund U19s made a major statement in their opening Bundesliga match and won 3-1 at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, one of the top favourites in the western pool, despite going down to 10 men for half an hour.
“I must pay the team a huge compliment. They passed this difficult test with flying colours and battled passionately,” said an ecstatic Tullberg, who was red-carded himself in the 81st minute.
After a dominant opening period from BVB, it grew into a hectic match which really came to life following a double-foul by Charles Herrmann that referee Cedric Gottschalk punished with a second yellow card (60). When Borussia’s goalkeeper Marlon Zacharias let the ball slip through his hands following a long cross by Noah Pesch a short while later, the game became more dramatic. Having fortuitously pulled a goal back to make it 2-1, Leverkusen attacked ferociously and Daniel Lang struck the left upright in the 72nd minute – but Paris Brunner wrapped it up for the Black & Yellows with a piece of individual play and a great goal to make it 3-1 (81). Brunner then cannoned the ball against the woodwork 60 seconds later following another solo run.
When referee Cedric Gottschalk subsequently waved away BVB’s calls for a corner-kick, a verbal dispute ensued between the Borussia dugout and the match officials that culminated in a red card for Mike Tullberg. A decision that Tullberg could understand as little as he could the one to send off his pacey winger: “The referee had not punished a clear foul on Charles Herrmann beforehand and therefore caused the situation in the first place.”
Splendid individual play from Paris Brunner
BVB put themselves on the right track by scoring goals in the 26th and 29th minutes at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. Charles Herrmann initially headed a corner kick taken by Cole Campbell over the line, before Danylo Krevsun got himself into the right place to meet Rafael Lubach’s placed corner and left Bayer goalie Petrenko no chance 180 seconds later. “We showed too much respect at the start but completely controlled the game after the two goals,” reflected Mike Tullberg.
The Borussia Dortmund U19s, whose squad contained six players from the young year group, surprised their highly rated opponents with intensive counter-pressing and aggressive challenges. Leverkusen created only one chance in the opening stages, with David Widlarz firing the ball wide of the mark from a narrow angle in the seventh minute. Otherwise, it was the Black & Yellows setting the tone. They were extremely vigilant in defence and put together some entertaining and varied link-up play, which led to several chances.
BVB had everything under control at the beginning of the second period. Petrenko saved Rafael Lubach’s deflected free-kick (49), while the opposition were allowed no chances at the other end – until Charles Herrmann’s sending-off marked a turning point in the game. But the team earned respect for their impeccable battling display, which Paris Brunner rewarded with a fabulous solo run and a well-placed finish to make it 3-1.
Borussia will host Alemannia Aachen in their first Bundesliga home game (Saturday 19/08, kick-off 13:00 CET). The visitors pulled off a surprise by beating VfL Bochum 3-2 in their season opener.
BVB: Zacharias – Korzynietz, Mane, Posadas, Kabar – Lubach, Wätjen (Onofrietti, 78), Krevsun – Campbell (Rashidi, 64), Brunner (Ubani, 87), Herrmann.
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