U23s win 1-0 against Freiburg thanks to Eberwein’s goal

The scenario: The Borussia Dortmund U23s were playing their first home game of the new 2023/24 third-division season. They had drawn the opening game of the new campaign 0-0 away to promoted outfit Preußen Münster. The two previous home games against the SC Freiburg reserves had ended in a 2-0 loss (2022/23) and a 1-1 draw (2021/22). The Breisgau youngsters, who finished last season as runners-up, had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate against MSV Duisburg on the first matchday. Like BVB, Freiburg’s squad underwent a major overhaul in the summer.

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Personnel matters: BVB coach Jan Zimmermann substantially changed his starting line-up compared to the Münster game. “We now have significantly more players available so I had many hard decisions to make. I’m excited to see whether the lads will justify their nomination,” explained Zimmermann in the run-up to the match. The head coach made six changes in total. New signings Patrick Göbel, Julian Hettwer, Paul-Philipp Besong and Hendry Blank (U19s) were handed their first start in the second competitive game of the season. In addition, Ole Pohlmann and Guille Bueno started the match. The changes saw captain Franz Pfanne, who played at the heart of defence in the opening game, move forward into central defensive midfield.

The match & analysis: The new-look BVB team was immediately challenged by a Freiburg side that started the match with plenty of power and pressure. But Borussia’s defence held firm – partly in thanks to right-back Göbel, who made a strong sliding intervention to thwart the visitors’ first shot after a matter of seconds.

Pohlmann then shot at goal following a fine pass from Hettwer, but his volley lacked the necessary precision and the ball flew well over the frame of the goal (9).

The game died down somewhat after the intense opening phase. BVB tried to keep possession against a Freiburg team that pressed early but rarely succeeded in building the play in a structured manner, with precision and coordination especially lacking. Both teams stood firm defensively, meaning there were only glimpses of goal. The BVB U23s did get close the penalty box again when a long ball from Pfanne found Hettwer, whose shot was beaten away by Jaaso Jantunen. The SCF keeper subsequently caught the onrushing Besong, but the referee did not blow his whistle (27).

The closing stages of the first period were then eventful. Freiburg’s Hamadi Al Ghaddioui initially squandered a headed opportunity, then suddenly BVB celebrated as Michael Eberwein opened the scoring practically on the stroke of half-time. Hettwer headed a cross from Falko Michel into the path of the midfielder, who only had to nod home at the back post.

Now a goal to the good, BVB started the second period on the front foot. The U23s repeatedly tried to get the ball up to the centre-forwards via Michel and the lively Pohlmann and Hettwer. The ex-Duisburg man was particularly dangerous. But Jantunen made two strong saves (47/53).

Freiburg had problems and could hardly free themselves from the pressure, with the first substitutions also not helping. The Black & Yellows continued to push for a second goal. But neither Pohlmann nor Michel could find the net (63).

BVB coach Zimmermann brought on two pairs of fresh legs in defence shortly after that double chance: Mario Suver and Ayman Azhil replaced Blank and Pfanne. The new strike duo of Justin Butler and Jermain Nischalke were charged with providing the attacking impetus. 

It was Pohlmann who once again had the chance to make it 2-0, twice firing a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area against the bar (81/87). Almost out of the blue, Freiburg had a huge opportunity to level the scores at the other end in stoppage time – but Philipp Fahrner’s lob went narrowly wide of the mark.

Reactions: BVB coach Jan Zimmermann: “You could see that we were nervous in the first 20 minutes, Freiburg applied lots of pressure. The goal gave us a great deal of confidence. You then saw the football that we want to play in the second half. A lot more energetic, a lot more forceful, a lot more aggressive and above all a lot more courageous. Due to the second period, it was not an undeserved win. I saw a little darkness but also a lot of light. It was a good step forward for our development because points also help us with our development.”

BVB midfielder Ole Pohlmann: “I think the three points are enormously important at the start of the English week. We need some time to get into the game at the beginning. But in the second half in particular, we showed what we can do. We can definitely be proud of ourselves.” 

Outlook: The English week means that the U23s will not have much time to recover. The Dortmund lads will be away to SSV Jahn Regensburg on Wednesday 23 August. Kick-off in the third match of the season is at 19:00 CET.

U23s: Lotka – Göbel, Blank (Suver, 67), Pudel, Bueno Lopez –Pfanne (Azhil, 67), Pohlmann, Eberwein, Michel (Bamba, 87) – Hettwer (Butler, 77), Besong (Nischalke, 77)

Goals: 1-0 Eberwein (45) 

Phillip Oldenburg