final push comes up short
By: Tucker | May 25th, 2009The Dortmunders stunning drive for a Europa League spot came up short as they were held to a 1-1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Remarkably it looked like that would be enough to see them through as Hamburg was deadlocked against Frankfurt late before Piotr Trochowski added a injury-time goal to send his side to the Europa League.
The hosts strategy was clear, to nullify BVB’s attack first and go forward with safer countering measures. With veteran Tomáš Galásek controlling the defensive line they bent to BVB’s pressure but could only be broken once. Die Schwarzgelben had a number early chances to score, most falling to Nelson Valdez but each was off course. Opportunities slowed to a more cautious tone in the later stages of the opening half with the exception of Dante registering Gladbach’s lone chance as he headed soon-to-be Bayern man Alexander Baumjohann’s corner off the post. The hosts grabbed a shock lead three minutes before the hour as Dortmund, playing a man down temporarily as Felipe Santana was receiving medical treatment, allowed Dante to crash into the box and headed-in Baumjohann’s corner. BVB pressed to level and did so four minutes after the hour as Sebastian Kehl sent a long ball that got past Paul Stalteri to Jakub Błaszczykowski with Kuba executing the final touch to perfection near the spot. With nineteen minutes left the Polish international was substituted for Mohamed Zidan but that seemed to have a detrimental impact on BVB’s flanking assaults. Despite the continued efforts the match ended even and the Dortmunders Europa League dream ended.
Although the disappointment of not earning a spot in European football “stings”, this was a incredible start to the centennial celebration. Die Schwarzgelben waved with pride in the Rückrunde, the fourth best result in the Bundesliga and one that provides great promise for the future.
Category: Team News
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
Exciting season, but falling short always hurts.
Thank you for keeping this blog going all season Tucker.
Posted from
United States
-
It has been my pleasure and thanks for finding my blog.
Have you got to any of your local teams matches yet?Posted from
Bulgaria -
Not yet, and i just started full time work today. I am lucky that my work group is full of soccer fans and we may make a trip to the New York Red Bulls later this year. Nobody is really sure when they play but maybe we can make an event out of it. I wouldn’t mind seeing jose altidore in action. Unfortunately everybody i met supports the EPL primarily but there is a guy from germany that could be on my side. i haven’t had a chance to talk much with him yet.
Posted from
United States -
That sounds like a lot of fun to go to. I have been to a few Austria Salzburg matches / practices which are also owned by Red Bull and it was a great time.
Hmm..I think we will need to put up a bigger effort to get all your friends here next year.
Posted from
Bulgaria -
I’ll do my best to win some BVB converts. The only thing i hate about the summer is a lack of sports i care about. Fall can’t some soon enough in my mind. BVB soccer in the morning and Notre Dame football in the afternoon. The best of both worlds. (I guess it really shows i’m an American).
Do you have any favorite sites for transfer news? i don’t mind having to translate them.
Posted from
United States -
Hmm..maybe I should have the “Miss BVB” poll on this blog – jajaja – that would make them fans.
The summer is extremely busy for me as I am doing coaching clinics from dawn to late and I can only get on a computer for a short time. However I will start to post a lot more shortly.
I will start posting more transfer information if it assists you but I was just unsure of “rumours”. I hear so many it gets annoying almost, especially when you know they are very unlikely but I do get a “fact / tip sheet” from people in scouting services.
Would it interest you if I posted more of players in development? You likely would not hear much of them for years but it will give you a better feel for the club.
Posted from
Bulgaria -
I have been to a couple NY Red Bulls games, its always fun to just go see some soccer. Good work on your blogs by the way, keep it up!
Posted from
United States -
don’t worry about posting rumors or anything I guess i was just starved for information.
If you feel like taking time to talk about players in development that would be alright, but maybe for practicality’s sake limit it to the guys on the amateur team who have a shot of cracking the pro side. Guys like Hunemer and Kullman, ect. As always it’s you’re blog do whatever you like, but during this time of no news if you have something you want to say about them i’d read it.
Posted from
United States
Comments are closed
Home 
