VfL Bochum’s U19 team lost the derby against Borussia Dortmund. The coach is disappointed with the first half but is optimistic about the rematch in the cup.

VfL Bochum’s U19 team suffered a 1-3 defeat in Friday’s derby against Borussia Dortmund in the U-19 DFB Youth League. This means their bid to take the lead in Group H has failed, while BVB extends its lead to five points.

David Siebers was particularly dissatisfied with his team’s first-half performance. Fadi Zarqelain (22’) and Thierry Fidjeu-Tazemeta (40’) gave Dortmund a 2-0 halftime lead.

“There were a few things that didn’t go as I’d imagined. I’ve discussed exactly which ones with the team,” he said after the match. The team’s response after the restart, however, was “good.” Bochum had a chance to make it 1–2, and Siebers also believed Gustav Schjott was fouled in the box—a penalty that wasn’t called.

Instead, Ahmad Najdi extended the lead to 3-0 just past the hour mark (63′), and Darnell Keumo’s goal to make it 1-3 (84′) came too late. “We could have at least gotten a point; you could feel that even after the 1–3. If we’d had more time and energy left, we could have done more here,” the coach said. For him, the main difference on Friday was efficiency. “We often couldn’t finish our attacks. That made the difference,” he summed up.

VfL Bochum: Praise for Young Goalkeeper Ferrara

Meanwhile, there was praise for VfL goalkeeper and debutant Noah Ferrara. Siebert hugged the 17-year-old after the game. “He’s made tremendous personal progress this year,” Siebert praised, adding: “He’s a highly talented goalkeeper. It was important to me not to just give him any league game as his first. It certainly wasn’t his fault that we lost. He made some great saves, especially in the first half—I’m very satisfied.”

Despite the loss, his team also earned a few words of praise at the end. Especially since the 38-year-old had to make seven substitutions compared to the first leg: “BVB was also missing a few players, but they might be better able to compensate for that with their depth. The team gave it their all until the very end; others might have fallen apart after falling behind 0–3, but that didn’t happen to us. I’m satisfied with the team’s attitude and the progress we’ve made, but not with a few tactical decisions in the first half.”

That’s also why Siebert is optimistic heading into the rematch in the cup on November 9: “I believe we’ve received confirmation that a win was possible. You could see that despite the loss.”