Borussia’s U19s have exited the Westfalenpokal at the semi-final stage following a 3-0 defeat away to FC Schalke 04. Mike Tullberg’s young team kept the game open for a long time and were only beaten in the closing stages.

U17 international Almugera Kabar debuted for the U19s, who had never taken to the pitch in this formation before. The team, which consisted of a mixture of the older and younger year groups plus U17 players, struggled from the start against a well-rehearsed and ambitious opponent that had just lost the DFB-Pokal final against 1. FC Cologne 4-3 (AET). 

The home team enjoyed more of the chances overall and were denied several times by goalkeeper Robin Lisewski, but BVB had their opportunities too. One example came in the 20th minute when Julian Rijkhoff fired the ball over the crossbar from a promising position following a move – the best of the game until that point – involving Paris Brunner and Samuel Bamba. After going 1-0 down (Yannick Tonye), the Black & Yellows sought a rapid response but Julian Rijkhoff spurned the biggest opportunity to restore parity (69).

However, Mike Tullberg was not satisfied with the final 30 minutes, when his team’s play was characterised by lapses in concentration and simple losses of possession. Substitute Semin Kojic scored the second and third goals (81st and 85th minutes). “The U17 players went about their business well. But I cannot be satisfied with the performance and body language from the lads who are now leaving the U19s,” explained Mike Tullberg.

The U19s will be away to Rasenballsport Leipzig in the DFB Special Round on Sunday. Then Mike Tullberg will be without Almugera Kabar, Kjell Wätjen, Charles Herrmann and Paris Brunner, who will be at the U17 European Championships with the German national team.

U19s: Lisewski – Cisse, Blank, Korzynietz – Bamba (Onofrietti, 60), Wätjen (Campbell, 73), Walz, Ludwig (Lubach, 46), Kabar (Nwachukwu, 46) – Brunner (Herrmann, 46), Rijkhoff

(wiwi, photo: FC Schalke 04)