So off the hook
Borussia Dortmund today secured their second win in a row with a team that somehow looked like a strengthened youth team. Though the 2-1 away win was against a merely dangerous Nuremberg team, but still youngsters like Nuri Sahin and Odonkor made the difference.BVB were waiting for their first three-pointer away from home and were looking to close the gap to the international spots. With key players missing to long time injuries (Koller, Ricken) plus some short term injured players (Metzelder) Bert van Marwijk had no other choice than to put holding midfielder Sebastian Kehl in centre defense. Home-grown talent Florian Kringe again played as right back instead of Philipp Degen. The midfield was set up with Nuri Sahin (17), Marc-Andre Kruska (18) and 'oldie' Tomas Rosicky (25). Up front Smolarek, Buckley and David “Speedie Gonzalez” Odonkor were looking to find Nuremberg’s goal.
FCN started well and took command for the first 5 minutes. Though BVB looked at the beginning not that rock-solid they could rely on 2 superb saves by Roman Weidenfeller. But that virtually was all Nuremberg had to offer. It was time for BVB’s mega-young midfield to set the pace. While Marc-Andre Kruska destroyed FC’s gameplay effectively like a experienced veteran, it was Sahin's and Rosicky’s combination football that made the game fast and initiated BVB’s attacks. And it only took until minute 13 that once again Kruska stole the ball from FCN striker Kießling. Nuri Sahin, youngest player ever to make a Bundesliga match, played a direct pass to Rosicky and the Czech national with a beautiful, deadly pass into Odonkor’s run that left Nuremberg’s defense in pieces. David’s pace was just too much for them and so it was a pure 1-on-1 against Schäfer. He passed the goalie and scored into the empty net – 1-0!
Those who expected furious attacks by FCN were disappointed. Though they had to offer some dangerous set pieces that left our defense stunning, but that more or less was it. On the other side Kringe had a nice chance to score with a long distance shot, that went wide.
In minute 42 it was again Odonkor who ripped Nuremberg’s defense. His run on the right wing was just too much for former BVB player Lars Müller. Odonkor’s cross found Nuri Sahin 14 metres in front of the goal, half-right position. The young Turkish starlet handled the situation like a pro. He faded to the centre and just scored with a low fierce shot into the lower left corner, no chance for Schäfer – 2-0!. Astonishing how effectively BVB played today, nonetheless the lead was deserved in every way.
Dede who was injured after 25 minutes already had to stay in the cabin. Bert van Marwijk brought in young Swiss national Philipp Degen who took over as right back while Florian Kringe, the living multi-purpose weapon, replaced Dede.
Those of us who expected BVB to fall back to old schemata were surprised. Borussia didn’t reduced pace but tried to keep control of the match. While Nuremberg had only few dangerous attacks, it were the black-yellow men who played some nice counter attacks. Even South African Delron Buckley, not really with a good start in Dortmund, had some nice plays and was only denied by Raphael Schäfer two times. Borussia last big chance appeared when again Odonkor set the right wing on fire and his pass found Buckley 5 metres in front of the goal. Unfortunately again Schäfer denied him. When BVB’s away supporters already started to celebrate the first away win this season it was once again a lack of concentration in the dying minutes that made Weidenfeller angry. A long pass found young prospect Kießling 20 metres in front of BVB’s goalie. He dribbled past Kehl and Sahin and hit the inner post with a fierce shot. The deflected ball finally hit the net and it was 1-2!. The last 2 minutes were again hoping for the final whistle.....which was for god’s sake then blown by FIFA-referee Dr Markus Merk.
A well deserved victory by the black-yellow team. While Nuremberg controlled the first 5 minutes, Sahin and Rosicky played their magic during most parts of the game. And as Odonkor was on fire today, we had the weapons to hurt FCN’s defense seriously. What delights the fans even more is the fact that four home-grown players were in the starting line-up: Kringe (23), Odonkor (21), Kruska (18) and Sahin (17). Sahin is now even the youngest player ever to play a Bundesliga match, ever to score in Bundesliga, ever to play for Turkey’s national team and ever to score for Turkey. What else can you expect from your team?
Hans Meyer: „In the first half BVB totally dominated us. Except the first five minutes we gave away the game to Borussia. In the second half we did better, but it wasn’t enough to be a threat for Dortmund.”
Bert van Marwijk: „We played a great match and tried to raise the pressure on FCN’s defense. That worked out for most parts of the match. My only wish would be that we score more frequently as we missed some great chances.“
FC Nuremberg: Schäfer - Paulus, Cantaluppi, Nikl, L. Müller - Mnari - Kießling, Banovic - Vittek, Daun, Schroth
Coach: Hans Meyer
BVB: Weidenfeller (2) – Kringe (3), Wörns (3), Kehl (3), Dede (2) – Kruska (3) – Rosicky (2), Sahin (3) – Odonkor (2), Smolarek (4), Buckley (3)
Coach: Bert van Marwijk
Substitutions: 46th S. Müller for Vittek, 64th Saenko for Daun - 46th Degen (3) for Dede, 90th Saka for Odonkor
(Marks: 1=world class, 2=did very well, 3=performance was ok, 4=not enough but not too bad at all, 5=not worth the money, 6=should pay money for playing football)
Goals: 0-1 Odonkor (13th, right foot, assist: Rosicky), 0-2 Sahin (42th, left foot, Odonkor), 1-2 Kießling (88th, right foot, Mnari)
Yellow cards: L. Müller - Odonkor
Referee: Dr Markus Merk
Attendance: 25.928
Geschrieben von jonam
