Lightning start and dream goals: U23s win at Waldhof Mannheim | OneFootball

The Borussia Dortmund U23s kicked off the Matchday 12 action in the 3. Liga with a deserved away win over Waldhof Mannheim. The Black & Yellows won 3-1 in front of 8,514 spectators at the Carl-Benz-Stadion thanks to a passionate display and two dream goals.

The scenario: The narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Essen last Friday evening ended BVB's recent unbeaten streak, which had lasted for five matches. The other side of the coin: BVB have now been waiting for a victory for three games. The visitors from Mannheim have significantly more problems. Waldhof could win only one of their previous six matches and are lagging behind their own expectations. The defence in particular is a cause for concern.

Personnel matters: Dortmund coach Jan Zimmermann made four changes to the starting line-up compared to the home defeat against RWE: Blank came back into the XI following his return from the Germany U20 national team, as did Ole Pohlmann, who has recently been out injured. In addition, Ted Tattermusch and captain Franz Pfanne played from the beginning. Bjarne Pudel, Patrick Göbel and Ayman Azhil made way and started the game on the bench. BVB were missing two attacking players in Justin Butler and Paul Besong (both injured).

The match & analysis: BVB made a flying start to the match in front of 8,514 spectators. A fine pass from Falko Michel after 42 seconds found attacker Julian Hettwer, who touched the ball right-footed past Waldhof's goalkeeper with the outside of his boot. Only a minute later, things got dangerous in front of the home team's goal once again. Rodney Elongo-Yombo tested keeper Jan-Christoph Bartels with his shot from the right side.

The hosts first needed a moment or two in order to process the early shock. The men form Mannheim subsequently gained a slightly better foothold in the game, albeit without ultimately placing BVB under any pressure.

The Black & Yellows, by contrast, were brimming with enthusiasm. BVB registered their next opportunity after 13 minutes but this time Michael Eberwein was slightly too imprecise. But Michel then found the net – in some style. The midfielder scored a dream goal to up the lead to 2-0. His shot from around 25 metres sailed into the right of the net.

The game now really gained momentum. That was also down to Mannheim, who recovered to some degree and went forward in a structured manner, which paid off around the half-hour mark. A cross from the right flank slid through into the Dortmund box. Malte Karbstein made the run towards the back post at the right time and fired the ball unstoppably past BVB goalkeeper Marcel Lotka (27).

The game was suddenly completely open again – and became increasingly exciting. It was end-to-end. Dortmund got unlucky with a Hettwer shot. He smashed the ball powerfully against the right upright from around the right corner of the six-yard box following a pass from Elongo-Yombo (31). The Black & Yellows went in at the break with a highly deserved 2-1 lead.

Dortmund shrewdly managed to keep the home team away from their own goal at the beginning of the second period. At the other end of the pitch, they repeatedly created opportunities themselves but both Pohlmann (58) and Elongo-Yombo (62) failed to get the better of goalkeeper Bartels from a promising position.

There was nothing Bartels could do in the 69th minute, however, as another long-range piledriver landed in the net. This time the excellent Pohlmann was the scorer. After a fine piece of individual play, he successfully targeted the top-left corner from a position about 20 metres out on the left. It was BVB's second dream goal of this Friday evening.

Everything was going to plan for Dortmund, but they gave themselves an unnecessary headache in the closing stages. Elongo-Yombo, who had already been cautioned, was shown a second booking for a foul (83). Mannheim sensed renewed hope with their numerical superiority, but the resurgence came too late.

Coach Jan Zimmermann: "I think we played a really good game. Today you could see why I've been so critical in the last few weeks. Because today the boys showed what they're capable of. The way we put away the goal for 2-1, the way we dominated the second period and didn't let ourselves get knocked off our stride shows that the lads have embraced what we spoke about. It also shows that the lads have put the setbacks of the past weeks behind them. We have a really good team. It was simply fun to watch them play football today."

Outlook: Next up for the U23s is a home game. SV Sandhausen will be the visitors to Dortmund on Saturday 28 October. Kick-off is at 14:00 CET.

Goals: 0-1 Hettwer (1), 0-2 Michel (14), 1-2 Karbstein (27), 1-3 Pohlmann (69)

Red card: Elongo-Yombo (83)

U23s: Lotka – Tattermusch (Suver, 90), Papadopoulos, Blank, Guille Bueno – Eberwein (Kamara, 68), Pfanne, Pohlmann (Roggow, 82) - Elongo-Yombo, Hettwer (Otuali, 90), Michel

Phillip Oldenburg