An impressive performance saw the Borussia Dortmund U23s defeat leaders SV Elversberg 2-0 on Matchday 34 of the 3. Liga. In front of 2,392 spectators at the Rote Erde stadium, the Black & Yellows were rock solid in defence and ice-cold up front, with Justin Njinmah (37) and Falko Michel (61) getting on the scoresheet. 

The scenario: Prior to last Monday’s 2-1 defeat away to SC Verl, head coach Jan Zimmermann’s U23 side had previously gone five games in a row without a loss. Before the clash with SV Elversberg, Borussia were in 14th place, six points clear of the relegation zone. The league leaders from Elversberg had recently gone three games in a row without a win, but were still perched comfortably atop the 3. Liga standings with 67 points. The reverse fixture at the beginning of November was won 3-1 by Elversberg.

Personnel matters: Dortmund coach Zimmermann made one change to the starting line-up from the 2-1 defeat in Verl: Tom Rothe, who played over 120 minutes for the U19s in the German Championship final in Mainz last weekend, replaced Guille Bueno on the left side of the back four. The Spaniard dropped down to the bench. 

The match & analysis: The league leaders took control of the game early on amidst a lively atmosphere at the Rote Erde stadium. In a dominant opening phase, Elversberg were able to push BVB back deep into their own half and carved out there first big chance after nine minutes: Robin Fellhauer was slipped through on goal after a neat pass by teammate Nick Woltemade, but he was forced wide and failed to get the better of BVB keeper Marcel Lotka, who reacted brilliantly to save with his foot. Borussia were let off the hook just four minutes later when striker Luca Schnellbacher sent a header from near the penalty spot just wide of the target (13).

Faced with a formidable Elversberg side, the BVB defence were increasingly able to rise to the challenge, as more tackles were won and fewer chances were conceded. In the middle of the first half, the Black & Yellows started to show more attacking intent of their own and enjoyed more possession, though they still struggled to make the breakthrough in the final third. A lot of Borussia’s play went through Justin Njinmah, who tried again and again to create danger from out wide. 

It was through their first real dangerous piece of attacking play that BVB took the lead in the 36th minute. After a corner for the home side, Can Özkan snatched possession of the ball, skipped past an opponent and played an inch-perfect through ball into the path of Justin Njinmah. The Borussia winger used his pace to bear down on SVE keeper Nicolás Krištof’s goal before slotting the ball home with a cool finish to open up an unexpected 1-0 lead. 

The goal gave BVB an even greater sense of security in defence. Elversberg’s only sight of goal in what remained of the first half was a shot from Semih Şahin in the 39th minute which failed to trouble BVB goalkeeper Lotka. 

The team in Black & Yellow proved imperious in the second half. Right from the restart, BVB showed the same eagerness in the challenge as they did during the first 45 minutes. This aggressive approach led to a big chance in the 52nd minute, as Abdoulaye Kamara won the ball in midfield and played it on to Falko Michel. Borussia’s number ten played a quick-witted pass into the path of the onrushing Njinmah, who fired a shot on goal but couldn’t get the better of goalkeeper Nicolás Krištof. It was a golden opportunity to go 2-0 up. 

Again and again, Borussia looked dangerous on the counter, and this approach soon paid off with the team’s second goal, scored by Falko Michel. Njinmah beat his man down the left and cut inside to shoot. The ball took a deflection and looped towards the back post, where Michel was well-placed to nod the ball home from close range (61). 

The Black & Yellows almost made it 3-0 through a similar action just three minutes later: Pfanne lofted a cultured ball from midfield over the top of the opposition defence to Njinmah, who was one-on-one with Krištof but sent a curling effort just past the right-hand post. One minute later, the outstanding Njinmah tried his luck again, but this time his long-range shot flew well wide of the mark. 

Down the other end, BVB had a close shave: Lukas Pinckert drilled in a dangerous cross from the right and, in attempting to head the ball to safety, Antonios Papadopoulos struck his own crossbar (66).

The U23s defended with passion and discipline right up to the end – the league leaders could find no way through the Black & Yellow barricade. The outstanding Lotka was comfortably able to handle incoming crosses and dangerous situations. Njinmah (78) and substitute Ole Pohlmann (79) had good chances on the counter, but the away defence got back well on both occasions. The biggest chance of the game for the table-topping visitors fell to Koffi in the 80th minute, but he couldn’t beat the BVB keeper from 16 metres out. The last of many big chances in the final stage of the game fell to Borussia’s Moses Otuali, but he too failed to score (90+5). In the end, an impressive performance saw the Black & Yellows pick up a well-deserved three points. 

Jan Zimmermann (BVB coach): ”We played with a lot of discipline and kept the spaces tight. We played out our counter-attacks in just the way we wanted to today, and that’s how we took the lead. That was important for our game plan. We could have put the game to bed earlier, but Elversberg also had chances to make things exciting. It was back and forth in the second half. We played with courage today, were switched on and threw ourselves into the action. That was important, a very mature performance.”

Outlook: The U23s have four matches remaining this season and are next in action away to Viktoria Köln this Sunday (7 May, 14:00 CET).

U23s: Lotka – Özkan, Papadopoulos, Dams, Rothe (76, Bueno) – Kamara (72, Pohlmann) Pfanne – Njinmah (90+1, Elongo-Yombo), Eberwein, Michel (90+1, Suver) – Tattermusch (76, Otuali)

Goals: 1-0 Njinmah (37), 2-0 Michel (61)