Borussia Dortmund's Youngsters Shine in London: 4-1 Victory Over Fulham
Daniel Rios took a bold squad to London. For the clash with Fulham FC’s youth side, the Borussia Dortmund coach leaned heavily on his U23s, then sprinkled in a touch of academy promise. Luke Fahrenhorst and Jan-Luca Riedl stepped up from the U19s, while Mathis Albert, Kaua Prates, Luca Reggiani and Justin Lerma added the kind of professional experience that changes the tempo of a youth game.
It showed. Eventually.
Early shock, then a response with bite
BVB’s youngsters started on the front foot. Within four minutes they were already buzzing around the Fulham box, asking questions, stretching the back line. The first goal, though, landed like a punch to the gut at the other end.
From a Fulham corner, striker Jose Sani darted to the near post and met the delivery cleanly. His header left Silas Ostrzinski no chance. 1-0 to the hosts after just five minutes, and Dortmund were chasing.
The goal served as a jolt rather than a setback. Rios’ side began to tighten their grip on the game, pushing Fulham deeper and deeper. The problem was the final third. BVB dominated the ball but initially struggled to unpick a compact, low block, their build-up play neat but not yet incisive.
That didn’t last.
The match’s direction was clear now: Fulham retreating, Dortmund advancing. The English side found it harder and harder to escape their own half, while the visitors’ confidence grew with every attack.
In the 25th minute, the pressure finally told. Albert, already dictating from deep, picked his head up and sent a superb long pass slicing through Fulham’s shape. Fadi Zarqelain timed his run perfectly and finished with composure for a fully deserved equaliser.
Fulham barely had time to reset.
Just three minutes later, Albert turned from provider to opportunist. A loose pass out from the hosts dropped invitingly at his feet around 17 metres from goal. He didn’t hesitate, guiding a precise shot past the keeper to flip the scoreline on its head. In the space of 180 seconds, BVB had gone from trailing to leading 2-1.
They carried that advantage, and the initiative, into the break.
Verlaat and Lerma finish the job
The second half picked up exactly where the first had left off. Dortmund came out with intent, hunting the third goal that would kill off the contest.
It arrived quickly.
In the 52nd minute, Takato Yamamoto whipped in a corner and Jesper Verlaat attacked it with conviction, powering his header over the line for 3-1. A set piece, ruthlessly executed, and Fulham were reeling.
BVB sensed their moment and went for the throat. Five minutes later, Justin Lerma produced the highlight of the night. Picking up the ball, he drove at the defence, weaving through challenges before capping a brilliant solo run with an assured finish to make it 4-1 to the Black & Yellows.
It was a statement goal from a player who had been central to Dortmund’s attacking thrusts. The only sour note: Lerma soon had to leave the pitch with an injury, his evening ending earlier than his performance deserved.
Fulham managed a rare chance of their own, but Ostrzinski dealt with it calmly. At the other end, Dortmund kept pushing. Captain Azhil went close in the 82nd minute, Degener threatened in stoppage time (90+1'), and Ngambia nearly added a fifth deep into added time (90+5'). The holders kept creating, kept controlling, right to the final whistle.
From an early setback to a commanding 4-1 win – this was a mature display in a competition BVB know how to navigate.
Rios’ verdict and what comes next
Head coach Daniel Rios did not hide his satisfaction afterwards. He pointed to the way his side reacted to the early blow, seized control of the match and piled up chances over the full 90 minutes, praising the performance delivered by this particular line-up against Fulham.
The schedule now splinters across age groups. Borussia Dortmund’s U19s turn their focus to Rot-Weiss Essen in the DFB youth round on 5 September (11:00, training ground in Brackel). The U23s, buoyed by this London trip, head to VfB Hilden in the Regionalliga West on 29 August (14:00).
As for the Premier League International Cup, the wait is longer. BVB’s youngsters won’t return to this stage until 15 December, when Aston Villa stand as their second group-stage opponents. If this opening salvo is any indication, that date is already circled in more than a few dressing-room calendars.
