U19s continue perfect start to the season

The newly-formed team have thus made a perfect start to the season. “The lads have taken a huge step, but we’re still at the beginning and must not drop off. I liked the way we contested these matches. It was very mature at times. You can see that every player is getting better. I’m happy with the development,” said head coach Mike Tullberg, drawing a positive initial assessment.

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In the first half of their game against Viktoria Köln in particular, the Black & Yellows demonstrated their footballing quality, enthusiasm and clearly recognisable progress in terms of their tactics, their positional play and their work off the ball. “That was highly-focused and mature against an unpleasant opponent,” explained Tullberg, who had deliberately held back verbally that morning and explained: “I wanted the lads to take on even more responsibility, make decisions independently and coach each other.” They also went about that task in a convincing manner.

The visitors primarily had their outstanding goalkeeper Oskar Hill to thank for the fact that BVB only led 2-0 at the break. He twice made interventions in one-on-one situations to deny Cole Campbell (2) and Paris Brunner (8) before making an outstanding stop to keep out a tricky effort from range by Brunner (36). But he was powerless to prevent not only the goals, but also Paris Brunner’s powerful strike in the 30th minute that saw the dynamic forward hit the bar from 18 metres out.

Brunner and Kabar head home

Borussia’s attacker had earlier scored with a header to make it 1-0. The goal was preceded by an intelligent switching of the play over to the right flank by Kjell Wätjen and a delicate cross from the excellent right-back Jaden Korzynietz. The goal for 2-0 came from another header, with Almugera Kabar converting a corner-kick taken by Rafael Lubach (27).

The match was definitively put to bed in the 58th minute when Danylo Krevsun made it 3-0 after being teed up by Kjell Wätjen. The Black & Yellows controlled the ball and the opposition in the final half-hour, creating one or two more chances against a Köln side that never gave up and tried to make an impact themselves until the end. “A very comfortable victory,” summarised Mike Tullberg, adding: “The lads produced some really nice moves.”

On Sunday, there was time for celebration; on Monday, the fringe players in the U19 and U17 squads will play a friendly against VfL Bochum (18:30 CET). The preparations for the DFB-Pokal tie against TSG Hoffenheim (Saturday 02/09, 11:00 CET) will then begin on Tuesday. “We could not have gotten a much more difficult opponent,” said Mike Tullberg, looking ahead to the game against the Kraichgau outfit. But after their flawless start to the Bundesliga campaign, his team will also approach this challenge will confidence.

BVB: Zacharias – Korzynietz, Mane, Posadas, Kabar – Lubach – Campbell (Diallo, 71), Wätjen (Onofrietti, 63), Krevsun, Herrmann – Brunner (König, 83)

(wiwi)