MSV Duisburg collected further important points in the relegation battle of the 3rd league with a home win against Borussia Dortmund II.
The Meiderich team won 2-1 (2-0) at the end of the 28th matchday on Sunday (March 3rd, 2024), thereby reducing the gap to the non-relegation places to four points. BVB is in fifth place in the table with 45 points. Alexander Esswein (12th) and Thomas Pledl (17th) scored for MSV, Antionios Papadopoulos for Dortmund (75th).
MSV coach Boris Schommers changed his starting eleven in two positions compared to the 1:3 defeat against Preußen Münster: Ahmet Engin and Marvin Senger moved into the formation for Rolf Feltscher (injured) and Joshua Bitter (suspension). At BVB, Marcel Lotka, Antonis Aidonis and Falko Michel were in the first eleven for Silas Ostrzinski, Bjarne Pudel and the injured striker Ole Pohlmann.
Esswein and Pledl score early for Duisburg
The initial phase clearly belonged to the Meiderichers, who acted passionately and offensively, but still had to wait for their first opportunity. In the 12th minute, Daniel Ginczek hit the post with a deflected shot, but Esswein then slammed the follow-up shot under the crossbar to make it 1-0. And MSV followed up immediately. This time it was Pledl who scored 2-0 from eleven meters after Ginczek’s assist (17th).
After that, the game lost a lot of pace and the action rarely took place near the goal. In the 33rd minute, Niklas Kölle had the chance to make it 3-0 for MSV, but put his difficult volley well over the goal. A little later, Esswein was denied by Lotka and Pledl aimed a little too high in the follow-up shot (36′). Shortly before the break, BVB also recorded their first real shot on goal when Lion Semic placed a shot into the arms of Vincent Müller (42′). Duisburg’s deserved lead at the break remained.
Papadopoulos makes it exciting
BVB started the second half with Franz Pfanne for Mateu Morey and were much more active than before the break. The first highlight came from Ginczek, who hit the Dortmund crossbar with a powerful long-range shot (52′). After that the game flattened out again. Duisburg left the ball to the guests and waited for a counterattack. Danger to the Dortmund goal came from an MSV corner from Pledl, which Lotka just stopped from sailing straight into the goal (69′). Shortly afterwards, Lotka had to go all the way to a long-range shot from Michelbrink in order to make a brilliant save to prevent the score being 3-0 (70′).
A quarter of an hour before the end, BVB surprisingly scored the next goal. Papadopoulos headed a long free kick from Ayman Azhil and made it 1-2 (75′). The goal gave Dortmund new hope and increased the pressure. However, MSV remained dangerous on the counterattack. In the 82nd minute, Lotka had to intervene in a dangerous cross from Kölle. Substitute Rodney Elongo-Yombo almost equalized in the 90th minute but hit the crossbar. BVB was once again all forward in the final minutes, but Duisburg defended with concentration and saved the narrow lead over time.
Dortmund against Bielefeld
MSV continues next Sunday (March 10, 2024/1:30 p.m.) with an away game at SpVgg Unterhaching. Dortmund received Arminia Bielefeld the day before (2 p.m.).
