U23s win away to FC Ingolstadt | OneFootball

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·4 February 2023

U23s win away to FC Ingolstadt

Article image:U23s win away to FC Ingolstadt

Borussia Dortmund's U23 team managed to put an end to the negative run of six defeats in a row with a 2-1 away win to FC Ingolstadt. Niklas Dams and Justin Njinmah struck before the break to guide the Black & Yellows to victory.

The scenario: FC Ingolstadt recently let go of coach Rüdiger Rehm after three defeats in a row and replaced him with Guerino Capretti, who previously led SC Verl to promotion. The Schanzers went into the match in 7th place, while six straight defeats had seen BVB tumble down to 18th place and thus into the relegation zone of the 3. Liga.


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Personnel matters: Ingolstadt coach Capretti opted for some tactical changes and sent his team out in an attacking 4-3-3 formation. BVB coach Preußer had to make do without Abdoulaye Kamara, Göktan Gürpüz, Silas Ostrzinski, Nnamdi Collins and Prince Aning, all of whom are expected to appear in the UEFA Youth League play-offs with the U19s on Tuesday. This meant the U23s were once again forced to make changes, as the side started with a three-man defensive line. Up front, newcomers Moses Otuali and Cyrill Akono were tasked with providing a goal threat. Michael Eberwein and Bjarne Pudel came in to replace Kamara and Collins in the starting line-up.

The match: The game got off to a tentative start, as both teams tried to get to grips with each other. BVB displayed some bright combination play in midfield, but were unable to pose a serious threat to the FCI goal. The hosts, too, struggled to work the ball into dangerous positions. In the 14th minute, the Black & Yellows had their first big chance: Akono chased down a back pass and intercepted the ball in the Ingolstadt area. He looked up and slipped a pass to Moses Otuali, who failed to make the most of the opportunity. Just two minutes later, it was the home side who had their chance to break the deadlock. Marcel Costly broke free down the right and bore down on the BVB goal, but his shot was well saved by Marcel Lotka.

Moments later, a header by Ingolstadt's Calvin Brackelmann fizzed just over the Borussia goal. In the 20th minute, Tobias Bech found himself in acres of space, but he was unable to get the better of Lotka. The following 15 minutes were marked by lots of tough battles in midfield, but little in the way of scoring chances for either team. Around the half-hour mark, Justin Njinmah had two efforts on goal in quick succession, but he wasn't able to get either on target.

In the 40th minute, BVB's battling performance was rewarded through the opening goal, scored by Niklas Dams. The centre-back had the simplest of finishes as the ball fell to him following a corner. Two minutes later, Ole Pohlmann headed on a throw-in into the six-yard box, where Njinmah was on hand to make it 2-0. Ingolstadt had a chance to strike back right away, but striker Pascal Testroet fluffed his lines.

The home side came out full of aggression after the break, and soon put the Black & Yellows under enormous pressure. In the 52nd minute, striker Testroet found the back of the net to cut the lead to 2-1. In the 61st minute, Testroet again had a big chance to equalise, but he fired wide of the mark when one-on-one with Lotka. The Schanzers kept plugging away in search of an equaliser, but Preußer's team were equal to the fight and managed to take the three points back home to Dortmund.

Outlook: Next Saturday, the U23s will host 1. FC Saarbrücken, who lost 4-0 at home to league leaders SV Elversberg today. Kick-off at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK is scheduled for 14:00 CET.

BVB: Lotka – Pfanne, Dams, Pudel – Rothe, Papadopoulos, Eberwein, Pohlmann, Njinmah – Akono, Otuali.

Reaction: BVB head coach Christian Preußer: "We stood firm, fought hard and had the requisite slice of luck on our side. We deserved it today because the boys gave everything they had. Of course, the victory does us a lot of good, but at the same time we can't afford to get carried away. Next week we have a difficult game against Saarbrücken.''

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