Winning streak over: U23s lose rescheduled clash with Münster | OneFootball

The Borussia Dortmund U23s have lost a match in the 3. Liga for the first time in eight games. The Black & Yellows succumbed to a 3-2 defeat to Preußen Münster in front of almost 7,500 spectators at Stadion Rote Erde. BVB ended the match with 10 men.

The scenario: The amateurs in Black & Yellow were now unbeaten in eight matches. Dortmund had taken their points tally to 39 thanks to a 3-1 away victory against Viktoria Köln on Matchday 25. By way of comparison: BVB picked up 45 points in the entirety of last season. But the visitors from Münster also arrived for this rescheduled match, which had been called off at short notice in December, full of confidence. Preußen had not lost any of their last five league matches. The reverse fixture had ended goalless.

Personnel matters: BVB coach Jan Zimmermann was once again forced to reshuffle his team. In addition to numerous injury absentees, three players missed this all-Westphalia clash through suspension (Julian Hettwer, Falko Michel and Franz Roggow). However, Antonios Papadopoulos returned to the team following a long-term injury. The 24-year-old, who last played for the U23s at the end of November, took the place of Franz Pfanne in central defence. His return saw Pfanne push forward into central defensive midfield. Mateu Morey started in the right-back berth. The aim was to give the Spaniard further match practice following his emotional comeback for the first team.

The match & analysis: The almost 7,500 fans at Stadion Rote Erde – the biggest attendance at an U23 game since 2014 – saw an intense match from the off. There was no settling-in phase with both teams getting straight at it, especially in the tackles.

The visitors initially made the better impression in attack. Combined with high pressing, they put BVB under pressure and created the first shooting opportunities. But the opening goal came courtesy of a set-piece: Simon Scherder headed the ball unstoppably past BVB goalkeeper Marcel Lotka and into the net following a corner (11). Ten minutes after the deadlock was broken, another corner from Marc Lorenz almost led to another goal. This time he picked out Preußen captain Jano ter Horst, who met the ball with his shoulder rather than his head.

The Black & Yellows had to gather themselves after falling behind and took some time before they started to play an active role in the game. And so it was something of a surprise when they levelled at 1-1. After a shot from Aymen Azhil the ball eventually landed with Moses Otuali, who was in the right place. The forward scored his first goal of the season from three metres.

BVB appeared to have finally woken up after the equaliser. It developed into an even encounter – with chances at both ends. Prince Aning (32) and Samuel Bamba (34) first tested Münster shot-stopper Maximilian Schulze Niehues, before Lotka came out on top against the unmarked Malik Batmaz (35). Shortly before the interval, Dortmund's goalie made another excellent intervention.

BVB coach Zimmermann apparently found the right words in the changing rooms. After the restart, BVB looked hungrier for the ball, more aggressive and more courageous. So it was not surprising that the first chance of the second half fell to the hosts: Elongo-Yombo fired the ball over the bar from approximately 20 metres out (47).

But it was the visitors who then showed their ruthlessness in the 62nd minute, with another corner-kick leading to a goal. Scherder touched Lorenz's set-piece with his thigh towards Batmaz, who scored on the turn. A short while later, Münster switched at speed after regaining possession, Joel Grodowski won the battle with Pfanne and extended the lead to 3-1 (69).

The delight of the visitors did not last long, however, as the action continued thick and fast. Only three minutes after that seemingly decisive goal, Aidonis headed home a perfect cross to pull a goal back. BVB tried everything in the final quarter-hour but could not really threaten the visitors' goal.

To make matters worse, Aning was shown a red card in stoppage time for a violent challenge. It was already BVB's eighth dismissal of the season.

Coach Jan Zimmermann: "I have to take full responsibility for the defeat. We had so many changes in the starting line-up – not just in terms of personnel but also in terms of position. You could see that. We had no structure to our game today, either with or without the ball. Maybe I expected a bit too much of the boys. That will get punished in this league. I think we deserved to lose. That wasn't the side of ourselves we've shown in recent weeks."

Outlook: The U23s will play host to SC Verl on Saturday 17 February. Kick-off against Sportclub is at 14:00 CET. BVB won the reverse fixture 3-2 thanks to a last-minute goal by Justin Butler.

Goals: 0-1 Scherder (11), 1-1 Otuali (25), 1-2 Batmaz (62), 1-3 Grodowski (69), 2-3 Aidonis (72)

Red card: Aning (90+5).

U23s: Lotka – Morey (Eberwein, 59), Aidonis (Pudel, 74), Papadopoulos, Aning – Azhil (Tattermusch, 84), Pfanne (Göbel, 74), Pohlmann - Elongo-Yombo, Otuali (Kamara, 84), Bamba

Phillip Oldenburg

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