Borussia Dortmund II found their way back to winning form on Saturday, decisively defeating VfB Stuttgart II with a score of 3-0 at the WIRmachenDruck-Arena, located in Großaspach. Following two winless matches and only one point garnered, this victory allowed the side to leap to the tenth position in the table, creating breathing room between them and the relegation zone by at least six points.
Coach Jan Zimmermann welcomed back Ben Hüning, who had served his yellow-red suspension, reintroducing him to central defense. The fixture saw changes from their previous draw against SV Wehen Wiesbaden, with Hüning and Felix Paschke substituting in for the BVB. The game commenced with high stakes; Stuttgart's home ground was set for intense action.
Dortmund made their intentions clear right from the kick-off. A mere three minutes were on the clock when they took the lead, capitalizing on Stuttgart goalkeeper Dennis Seimen's unfortunate mistake. A back pass intended for Seimen faltered, leading to his attempted clearance being blocked by Julian Hettwer, allowing the ball to fall to Jordi Paulina, who simply tapped it home for the opener.
This fast start not only set the tone for the match but also stunned the Stuttgart crowd, which only numbered around 1,300. Dortmund continued to put pressure on the home team, affirming their offensive prowess throughout the first half. Just before halftime, Julian Hettwer struck again, scoring the second goal for Dortmund. After receiving a long ball from Franz Roggow, Hettwer showcased his composure and placed the ball expertly beyond Seimen's reach, doubling his team's lead.
Attempting to rally after the break, Stuttgart coach Markus Fiedler sought to reinvigorate his side, making offensive substitutions. Yet, only four minutes after the second-half whistle, Dortmund once again pierced the Stuttgart defense. Following an exhilarating solo run from Cole Campbell, who weaved by three defenders, the ball ricocheted off the post and landed fortuitously at Hettwer's feet, who completed his brace with ease.
The home team, shaken by this onslaught, struggled to lace their attack with precision, reeling from defensive errors already committed. Stuttgart did create some chances—most notable was Eliot Bujupi's effort, which was met by Dortmund's goalkeeper Marcel Lotka, who thwarted yet another opportunity to preserve the clean sheet.
Despite Stuttgart's attempts to claw back, including appeals for penalties following potential handballs, nothing seemed to stem the tide against Dortmund’s well-structured defense. Dortmund was often closer to extending their own lead than Stuttgart was to scoring, which encapsulated the difference between the two sides on the day.
Reflecting on this match, coach Markus Fiedler stated, "When you go down after just three minutes through such a blunder, it certainly doesn't make things easier. We made too many mistakes." This comment illustrated the tactical struggles his team faced, as they failed to capitalize on their possession statistics, which at times appeared meaningless against the efficiency displayed by Dortmund.
Conversely, this match marks another significant step forward for Borussia Dortmund II, with the victory improving their overall performance metrics from the season. With this match, they climbed to tenth place, demonstrating resilience after recent disappointments.
Looking forward, Dortmund's next match against 1. FC Saarbrücken presents another opportunity to capitalize on their momentum before the winter break. For Stuttgart, the road looks challenging; they remain merely steps away from the relegation zone, with their next encounter against Rot-Weiß Essen looming large.
Overall, the match encapsulated the highs and lows of football. Borussia Dortmund II showcased their capability to capitalize on opposition mistakes, assert their dominance, and balance strong defensive play with timely offense—setting the stage for what is to come as the season progresses.
