Borussia Dortmund’s U19s played Manchester City on the second group matchday of the Youth League. In the end, BVB suffered an annoying 2:3 defeat.

Borussia Dortmund’s U19s also lost their second match in the Youth League group stage. On Wednesday afternoon, BVB lost 2:3 (0:1) at Manchester City after a crazy final phase. Dortmund had first turned the game around, but in the final act of the second half, the Revierklub conceded two more goals. With a 2-0 loss to FC Copenhagen in their opener, Dortmund are without points after two matchdays.

At the Cityzens’ Academy Stadium, BVB fielded U23 players Lion Semic, Prince Aning and Göktan Gürpüz in the starting eleven. Starting alongside Julian Rijkhoff up top was Paris Brunner, only 16 years old, who has recently recommended himself for higher tasks with 14 goals in four games with the U17s.

Despite their role as underdogs, Dortmund did not hide and even had some good chances. But Samuel Bamba (11th/15th) and Brunner (26th), among others, missed. The home side were much more cool-headed: After a mistake by Semic, it was Nico O’Reilly who scored the 1:0 for Manchester – which was also the half-time score.

After the restart, it didn’t take long for Borussia to almost concede the 0:2. Carlos Borges stormed into the Dortmund penalty area, but his following lob failed. On the other side, Brunner hit the outer net after a counterattack (54th).

More and more, City took control of the game. But the goal was scored by BVB. Vasco Walz scored the equaliser with a shot from around 20 metres (72nd). And ten minutes later, Dortmund cheered again. Rijkhoff was fouled in the penalty area and converted himself with a dry finish into the centre of the goal.

The visitors had now turned the game around – which was unexpected, but not undeserved given the distribution of chances. But just as the surprise victory was taking shape, the late shock followed. Left-back Aning was clumsy in a duel in his own sixteen and hit his opponent’s leg with his straddle. Again there was a penalty, again the ball was in the net. Oscar Bobb had sent BVB keeper Marian Kirsch into the wrong corner.