U23s extend points record with 2-1 victory at 1860 Munich

The Borussia Dortmund U23s have run out 2-1 victors away to 1860 Munich thanks to a brace from Ole Pohlmann. The 14th win of the season saw the Black & Yellows extend their points record for a 3. Liga season to 53 points.

The scenario: Borussia Dortmund had travelled to Munich full of confidence. The U23s had crossed the 50-point threshold the previous weekend and thus set a new club record for points in a third-tier campaign. While Dortmund's objective in their away game against 1860 Munich was now to further extend their points haul, 1860 were in urgent need of points in the battle for survival.

Personnel matters: BVB coach Jan Zimmermann made four changes to the starting line-up that drew 2-2 against Aue. Patrick Göbel, Paul Besong, Paris Brunner and Antonios Papadopoulos were replaced by Mario Suver, Rodney Elongo-Yombo, Ole Pohlmann and Franz Pfanne. For Pfanne, the game away to 1860 was a very special occasion. The captain was making his 102nd appearance in a BVB shirt in the third tier. In the process, he replaced Marc Hornschuh as the Black & Yellows' record appearance-maker in the 3. Liga.

The match & analysis: The Borussia Dortmund U23s made a spectacular start in front of 15,000 spectators at Stadion an der Grünwalder Straße. It was almost all Black & Yellow in the first minutes and the early opener was therefore deserved: Ole Pohlmann got the better of an opponent in the penalty area and fired the ball into the near corner (4). Only two minutes later, a free-kick from the Dortmund playmaker struck the home team's crossbar. And the third opportunity also fell to the technician, whose shot was however blocked in a highly dangerous situation (13).

After a dominant opening phase, the Dortmund players retreated somewhat and allowed 1860 to have the ball. The home team, who have picked up only two points from losing positions this term, made an effort but proved to be far too harmless going forward against a BVB side that defended well. That made the equaliser in the 28th minute even more surprising. 1860 forward Mansour Ouro-Tagba exploited a quickly taken corner-kick and scored to make it 1-1.

1860 became increasingly lively in the ensuing period and created further chances. The best opportunity was thwarted by BVB keeper Marcel Lotka, who spectacularly saved a header from Morris Schröter (31). Lotka did not need to intervene for the shots by Guttau and Reinthaler (34/38).

The match was now open, in part because Dortmund continued to compete and also created opportunities: Franz Roggow initially headed a Pohlmann corner powerfully over the bar, then Aymen Azhil also went for goal with a header following a corner (41/43).

Dortmund also made the better start to the second period and – like in the first half – were celebrating early on thanks to Pohlmann. The Lions' defenders failed to clear a cross from right-back Aidonis, Pohlmann showed lightning-quick reactions and thundered the ball into the net to put BVB back in front (50). The goals were the 23-year-old's 12th and 13th of the season.

At the other end, the first change came within a hair's breadth of paying off only for substitute Joel Zwarts to fire well wide from an unmarked position in front of Lotka (59). 1860 were keen to level the scores again but lacked the necessary penetration. BVB controlled the match and waited for their moments to switch the play.

With 20 minutes remaining, BVB coach Zimmermann brought on two fresh pairs of legs. Julian Hettwer and Michael Eberwein were replaced by Falko Michel and Justin Butler. But despite the fresh pairs of legs in attack, BVB increasingly switched into game management mode and consequently and clever defended their narrow lead.

Coach Jan Zimmermann: "We played really well in spells and put up a fight. I tip my hat to my team's combative performance. It was only the counters that we didn't finish off well. If we had played more clearly and better, we could have already wrapped up the game earlier on. It was tight as a result. We have often experienced setbacks in stoppage time in recent weeks, which is why I'm delighted for the lads that we defended cleanly until the end."

Outlook: The U23s will play host to SSV Ulm on Saturday 11 May. The Ulm outfit will travel to Dortmund having recently sealed promotion. Kick-off at Stadion Rote Erde is at 14:00 CEST.

Goals: 0-1 Pohlmann (4), 1-1 Ouro-Tagba (28), 1-2 Pohlmann (50)

U23s: Lotka – Bueno, Suver, Pfanne, Aidonis – Roggow, Azhil, Eberwein (Butler, 69) – Pohlmann (Lütke-Frie, 88), Elongo-Yombo (Tattermusch, 88), Hettwer (Michel, 69) Phillip Oldenburg