Late blow for BVB’s U23s: Sascha Voelcke, former RWE defender, scores his first goal of the season to give Waldhof Mannheim their first away win.
Borussia Dortmund’s U23 team had to do without several key players on Tuesday (October 22) against SV Waldhof Mannheim. However, the reason for this was a happy one: regular goalkeeper Marcel Lotka, captain Ayman Azhil, Almugera Kabar, and Cole Campbell were all in Dortmund’s Champions League squad for the match against Real Madrid.
The visitors from Mannheim arrived at Dortmund’s Rote Erde stadium with considerable momentum from their recent matches. Since Marco Antwerpen was dismissed after the fifth matchday, they have picked up ten of a possible twelve points. New coach Bernhard Trares has won three of his five games since taking office. However, Mannheim has yet to win a single away game.
In contrast, Dortmund’s U23 team is extremely strong at home. They also have Julian Hettwer, the top scorer in the third division, in their ranks. But in the tight third division, anyone can beat anyone, as we all know.
The home side started the game well, creating danger mainly from corners in the early stages. Jordi Paulina had a chance to put BVB ahead after one such corner, but only a brilliant save by Waldhof goalkeeper Jan-Christoph Bartels prevented Mannheim from falling behind. The following corner also almost led to a goal. However, Franz Roggow’s header towards the far post could not be pushed over the line by the onrushing Eberwein (11).
After half an hour, the visitors also became dangerous. Marcel Seegert could have put Mannheim ahead after a free kick, but his shot from close range was deflected onto the crossbar by Lotka’s replacement Silas Ostrzinski. Shortly before the break, it was the young Dortmund players who had another chance to take the lead. Hettwer found himself one-on-one with Bartels but failed to beat him, and he was also unable to control the rebound (42). So the visitors went into the break somewhat fortunate to be still goalless.
After the break, Kobylanski surprised BVB keeper Ostrzinski with a sharp corner that almost went straight into the goal. Ostrzinski thought the corner was out, but Shipnoski got to the ball at the far post and tried his luck from a few meters out. With a bit of luck, Ostrzinski cleared the ball for a corner. In the second half, Borussia Dortmund’s U23s were unable to build on their good first-half performance, but the now improved SV Waldhof Mannheim were also unable to create any real chances in front of the Dortmund goal. That was until former RWE full-back Sascha Voelcke sent the traveling Mannheim fans into ecstasy. In the 83rd minute, Voelcke gave Mannheim the lead. He burst into the penalty area at speed, kept his cool and surprised Ostrzinski, who had no chance. That was how it stayed.
It was Waldhof Mannheim’s first away win, ending Dortmund’s winning streak.