Borussia Dortmund’s under-19 football team secured a vital 2-0 victory against Sabah FC in Baku, claiming their second win in three matches in the UEFA Youth League and strengthening their position on the path to the round of 16. With six points now on the board, the squad managed by Felix Hirschnagl demonstrated dominant control throughout the fixture at the Alinja Stadium, despite facing a deeply entrenched defensive opponent.
For the away fixture played in favorable weather conditions at 22 degrees Celsius, Hirschnagl reinforced his starting lineup with under-23 players Fadi Zarqelain, Tim Degener, and Aaron Held. Young professional Luca Reggiani also featured in the first half before making way for Georgios Zisopoulos after the interval. Defensive player Jan-Luca Riedl returned to the team following a lengthy injury absence and a recent comeback appearance against RW Oberhausen, while the rest of the formation mirrored the side that triumphed over Bodø/Glimt the previous week.
Facing hosts who had suffered heavy prior defeats against Manchester United and Slavia Prag, Sabah deployed a compact defensive block designed to stifle Dortmund’s attack. While the German side maintained overwhelming possession, they struggled to unlock the disciplined Azerbaijani defense in the opening half or trouble goalkeeper Yarahmadov. Attempts from Luca Reggiani, Tim Degener, Justin Hoy, and Luke Fahrenhorst missed their targets, and the hosts tightly marked Dortmund striker Bjarki Gardarsson.
Dortmund elevated the tempo after halftime, pressing Sabah deep into their own half. The breakthrough remained elusive initially, compounded by misfortune when Gardarsson struck the aluminum woodwork in the 60th minute. The sustained pressure eventually paid off in the 74th minute as Riedl broke the deadlock to make it 1-0, shortly after Zisopoulos had also hit the frame of the goal.
The opening goal fractured the hosts’ resistance, allowing Dortmund to press further. Although Justin Hoy missed an 82nd-minute penalty following a foul inside the box, substitute Ahmad Najdi sealed the victory in the 88th minute with a definitive second goal.
Reflecting on the contest, Hirschnagl acknowledged the anticipated difficulty of facing a defensively minded opponent away from home. He noted that while his squad struggled to deliver crosses into the box during a scoreless first half, their intensity and counter-pressing significantly improved after the break, rendering the 2-0 result thoroughly deserved.
Attention now shifts to domestic competition and a top-of-the-table clash in the DFB Youth League against FC Schalke 04. Dortmund enters that fixture as group leaders with 17 points, facing a Gelsenkirchen side currently holding nine points in fourth place. The next home fixture in the UEFA Youth League is scheduled for November 4 against Real Betis at the youth performance center.
