The Borussia Dortmund U23s have missed out on the chance to overtake Erzgebirge Aue in the table. Amid a snowstorm in Aue, BVB suffered a 2-0 defeat. Both teams finished the game with 10 men.

The scenario: The U23s had only managed to win one of their previous seven matches. Aue had not been in top form either. However, the home team had their noses in front in terms of previous third-tier meetings. The four matches had not produced a Dortmund victory. Nonetheless: BVB came away from Aue last season with a 3-3 draw that prematurely ensured their survival.

Personnel matters: Borussia Dortmund coach Jan Zimmermann was able to call upon the experienced Michael Eberwein and Antonios Papadopoulos once again in Aue. Ted Tattermusch came into the starting line-up compared to the 1-1 draw against Lübeck. The trio replaced Patrick Göbel, Franz Roggow and Falko Michel. Tiago Estevao, who was standing in for the suspended Marcel Lotka, started in goal again.

The match & analysis: Prior to kick-off, there was snow to be shovelled. Everyone joined in to ensure the game could go ahead, with fans and employees playing their part right up until kick-off. The match was played with a red ball and red markings.

Erzgebirge Aue initially coped better with the slippery surface and piled on the pressure. The home team’s first two shots by Niko Vukancic (4) and Tim Danhof (5) did not pose a threat. But then things got curious in the ninth minute: a volley from Aue’s Anthony Barylla following a corner-kick landed in the back of the net. However, referee Haslberger had already blown for a foul beforehand, meaning that Aue lost their advantage. Rather than a goal, a free-kick was awarded. U23 goalkeeper Estevao clawed the resultant set-piece from Barylla away from the corner.

And BVB? Dortmund were barely able to withstand the pressure. It was only after just under a quarter of an hour that the Black & Yellows got into a dangerous position in front of the Saxony side’s goal for the first time. Rodney Elongo-Yombo shot from close range following a cross from Abdoulaye Kamara, only for Martin Männel to make the save. But the first attacking action did not bring Dortmund much in the way of confidence.

The home side’s opening goal by Marcel Bär, who beat Estevao from close range (15), was therefore well deserved. The Black & Yellows had to rally themselves – and were lucky that another goal for Aue was disallowed just four minutes later.

However, the home side did not let this unsettle them. Aue pinned the U23s far back and subsequently created numerous chances to increase their lead.

BVB only grew livelier shortly before the break and gradually settled into their rhythm. Eberwein registered two attempts (32/40) before Julian Hettwer missed what was probably BVB’s best chance. Unmarked in front of goal, he fired the ball narrowly past the left post from a centre-right position (43). That missed chance was immediately punished. In stoppage time, Bär scored another goal from a loose ball to make it 2-0 (45+1).

Dortmund emerged from the interval with determination. But the U23s were not able to engineer gaps in the Saxony defence. BVB were lacking the creative spark. As a result, it was the hosts who put down the first marker in the second half: Bär’s shot was saved by Estevao (66). Shortly afterwards, the Saxons shot themselves in the foot. Marco Schikora, who had already been cautioned, put in a late challenge on Eberwein and was subsequently shown a second yellow card.

However, the numerical superiority did not last long. Ten minutes after the first sending-off, Blank was also shown a yellow card for a foul. Hettwer had previously missed a good opportunity.

But even though Zimmermann’s team improved in the second half and Pohlmann was presented with a great opportunity to equalise (85), the score remained unchanged.

Coach Jan Zimmermann: “I’m not satisfied with the first 20 minutes. Aue fully deserved to win. Nonetheless, we had spells in which we had opportunities to make the match exciting. But we didn’t make use of the situations, we’re perhaps lacking a bit of cleverness in that regard.”

BVB captain Franz Pfanne: “We were completely caught napping at the start, didn’t get stuck into the challenges and had excessively large gaps in our ranks. Then you chase, give away too many chances and deservedly lose at the end. We can make no reproach of ourselves in the second period.”

Outlook: The campaign will continue for the U23s next Sunday (3/12) when they play host to 1860 Munich. Kick-off is at 19:30 CET.

Goals: 1-0 Bär (15), 2-0 Bär (45+1)

Red cards: Schikora (67), Blank (77)

U23s: Estevao – Tattermusch (Nischalke, 75), Papadopoulos (Göbel, 60), Blank, Guille Bueno (Azhil, 75) – Eberwein, Pfanne, Kamara (Roggow, 64), Pohlmann – Hettwer (Semic, 82), Elongo-Yombo
Phillip Oldenburg