story of my season BORUSSIA DORTMUND | DIE SCHWARZGELBEN ANGRIFF - BUNDESLIGA MATCHDAY 17 - DUSSELDORF UPDATE POSTED - Page 3

 SEPTEMBER 29TH 2012 - DORTMUND PUNISH BREMEN

 'Borussia Dortmund put Werder Bremen to the sword
 but had to survive a second half fightback to win'





MATCH STATS | RATINGS

Ciaran O'Donnell watched his Dortmund side dominate the first half of the game, seeing Marco Reus finally open his scoring account in a Dortmund shirt but it was a true Jakyll and Hyde performance from Dortmund as two second half goals made life very difficult from the champions as they left the Westfalenstadion with a 3-2 victory. "The first half was the one that I've been waiting for since the start of the season, the second half was one that I've been dreading." stated the Dortmund manager.

Dortmund hit the ground running when Robert Weidenfeller's long kick was latched onto by Robert Lewandowski and his expert lob punished the visitors without even ten minutes gone on the clock. It only got worse for Bremen as Mario Gotze's corner was met by Filipe Santana and the champions doubled their lead, the travelling fans couldn't believe what they were watching and the Champions looked like they were going to walk to a victory. It was a three goal advantage right on the thirty minute mark when Mario Gotze's finish powered past Sebastian Meilitz in the visitor's goal and compounded the misery in the first half for Bremen. The second half saw a change from Bremen when, not long after the break, Niclas Fullkrug met the cross of Eijero Ella to pull a goal back. O'Donnell was on his feet with fury at his team with twenty minutes left, Mehmet Ekici beating Santana to the ball and slotting past Weidenfeller to make it 3-2. The final quarter of the game saw a number of chances for Dortmund to extend their lead but Ivan Persic put the ball over while Meilitz managed to turn Lewandowski's drive from the edge of the box behind. Weidenfeller had to make a save in the dying minutes of the game to keep Dortmund in the lead. After the match, O'Donnell was quick to praise the first half performance of his team, "We played the way I know we can play, we went up and attacked, we scored goals and we showed everyone that we mean business" and, as for the second half? "We have some work to do but lets not take away  from the performance."

It was perfect for Dortmund to warm-up for the visit of the European Champions Chelsea in midweek, "Chelsea and Werder Bremen are two completely different teams, no offence to Bremen but Chelsea are a league above them. European Champions and a team full of superstars, we're going out to prove we're able to hang with the biggest teams in Europe."





Marco Reus finally opened his Dortmund account with a
powerful finish to send the Champions on their way to victory


BUNDESLIGA MATCHDAY SIX RESULTS
Bayern Munich 1-0 Hoffenheim (Fri)
Furth 2-1 Freiburg
Hamburg 0-1 Nurnberg
Mains 0-1 Schalke
Monchengladbach 2-1 Leverkusen
Stuttgart 2-0 Augsburg
DORTMUND 3-2 WERDER BREMEN (18:30)
Hannover 3-1 Wolfsburg (Sun 15:30)
Dusseldorf 5-3 Frankfurt (Sun 17:30)

 OCTOBER 2ND 2012 - STALEMATE AS CHELSEA AND DORTMUND MEET

 'The European Champions had to come from behind
 in order to leave Dortmund with a point in their clash'





MATCH STATS | RATINGS

Dortmund manager Ciaran O'Donnell hailed this as his side's best performance of the season and said that it showed his side could match the very best in Europe. "When you have the European Champions come and play in front of your fans and you can put on a performance like that, it means something. When you have a side go in as the underdogs and perform the way the boys did tonight, it shows that there aren't many teams that can match us." Few would argue with the Scot's thinking as Dortmund were in control for the majority of the game as they held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw.

With both sides looking to establish themselves at the top of the group, Dortmund wasted no time in drawing first blood when Mats Hummels was the the best man in the box and met Marco Reus' inswinging corner and beating Ross Turnbull in the visiting goal. The home fans couldn't believe their luck while they watched their side outplay the English side during the first half and before too long, it was their time to score again. Jakub Blaszaczykowski was there to finish off an impressive passing move, ending with the Polish captain slamming home after Marco Reus' pass and Turnbull was left helpless to stop the ball entering the net and the German Champions were 2 goals to the good with only fifteen minutes gone. For the remainder of the half, Dortmund frustrated Roberto Di Mateo's men as they couldn't find a way through to Fernando Torres and the duo of Eden Hazard and Juan Mata were shut out for long periods of time. The second half changed the perspective of the game as two goals in four minutes turned the game on it's head. The first game when Ramires was able to beat the Dortmund offside trap and Robert Weidenfeller was caught out, letting Chelsea get a foothold in the game before Juan Mata's free kick put his side back on level terms but before the hour mark. With the game level, neither side was able to get the goal needed to secure victory, not that many Dortmund fans would care after seeing their side play so well against the Champions League holders. 

Dortmund and Chelsea occupy the top two places in Group G after Valencia's 1-0 victory over Panathinakos in Greece with Dortmund travelling to the Greek side for the next game while Chelsea and Valencia meet at Stanford Bridge. Dortmund's next game is away to newly promoted Augsburg in the Bundesliga.





The ever-present Jakub Blaszaczykowski scored as the
German Champions held the European Champions in Dortmund


SELECT CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHDAY TWO RESULTS
(A) Olympiakos 1-3 Bayern Munich
(B) Monchengladbach 1-2 Juventus
(B) Shakhtar 1-3 Real Madrid
(C) Montpellier 0-2 Manchester United
(D) Arsenal 0-1 Lille
(E) Manchester City 5-1 Red Bull Salzburg
(E) PSG 0-2 AC Milan
(F) Cluj 1-1 Celtic
(F) Schalke 3-0 Porto
(G) DORTMUND 2-2 CHELSEA
(G) Panathinaikos 0-1 Valencia
(H) Nordsjelland 0-2 Barcelona

 OCTOBER 6TH 2012 - O'DONNELL: WE WILL MISS IVAN

 'Jakob Blaszaczykowski inspired Dortmund to continue their impressive start
 to the season over Augsburg despite injury to Ivan Perisic marring affairs'





MATCH STATS | RATINGS

Borussia Dortmund continued their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season with an impressive 3-1 victory over newly promoted Augsburg at the SGL arena; a victory that delighted manager Ciaran O'Donnell. "After the week we've had, getting a result against Chelsea and continuing our form in the league; it shows just how disciplined the team is. We could have come here and treated the game as a training match but we gave Augsburg the respect they deserve and we left with a result."

Jakob Blaszacykowski showed that his recent run of form wasn't temporary as he followed up his goal against European Champions Chelsea with a goal over the surprise package of the season with nearly 20 minutes on the clock. The Poland Captain was in the right place at the right time as he latched onto the end of Marco Reus' cross to volley past the helpless Simon Jentzsch in the home goal. Events didn't get much better for the home side when Reus and Blaszacykowski traded places for the German international to score the second less than a minute later. The mood in the SGL arena turned sour for the champions when Ivan Perisic was stretchered off with, what O'Donnell confirmed was a torn calf muscle and the Dortmund coach was understandably sombre when the topic came up with in his post match press conference. "Ivan's been an ever constant member of the team this season and works hard to show he deserves to be in my plans. The fact he could be out until Christmas is a blow but we'll have Kevin (Grosskreutz) back from injury. We also have Moritz (Leitner) came on and did well when Ivan went off injured. We'll miss Ivan but we've got the depth to continue our success." O'Donnell's introduction of Leitner proved to be pivotal as he would ensure Dortmund maintained a two goal advantage in the second half when Giovanni Sio pulled one back for Augsburg just after the break before the German's through ball was collected by Robert Lewandowski, who would score to put the game beyond doubt.

Dortmund have a busy month ahead but it's a tasty tie with Schalke at the end of the month that has caught many fan's attention only days following a trip to Greece in the Champions League to face Panathinaikos but first, the German Champions will face Wolfsburg.





Croatian Ivan Perisic was ruled out until after Christmas with a
torn calf muscle he suffered during Dortmund's most recent win


BUNDESLIGA MATCHDAY SEVEN RESULTS
Werder Bremen 1-2 Furth (Fri)
AUGSBURG 1-3 DORTMUND
Hoffenheim 1-1 Frankfurt
Monchengladbach 0-1 Dusseldorf
Nurnberg 0-2 Mainz
Freiburg 1-0 Bayern Munich (KO 18:30)
Wolfsburg 1-1 Stutgart (Sun 15:30)
Leverkusen 0-1 Hamburg (Sun 17:30)
Schalke 3-1 Hannover (Sun 17:30)

Great to see updates for this again! Strong win, shame about Perisic though. Looks like it was very comfortable 

 OCTOBER 20TH 2012 - DORTMUND MEET EXPECTATIONS WITH VICTORY

 'Ciaran O'Donnell's Dortmund made it seven wins from eight in the Bundesliga
 after a 2-0 home victory over Wolfsburg, keeping them top of the league'





MATCH STATS | RATINGS

The Champions continued their unbeaten run during 2012 going forward in the Westfalenstadion, despite feeling a weakened team due to injuries but it was goals from the in-form Jakob Blaszacykowski and a Man of the Match performance from Neven Subotic that put Wolfsburg to the sword. Ciaran O'Donnell was quick to praise his side but also the home support after the game. "We saw the scenes when I was appointed. The fans didn't have faith in the decision to appoint me but patience has shown I have the quality to bring success to the club. Today, the team rewarded that patience."

The home support had to remain patient for a little while longer as Wolfsburg nearly took an early lead with a well worked move but when the moment came for the finish, Diego's shot went harmlessly wide of the Dortmund goal while Ivica Olic set a precident for his day in front of goal when his shot sailed over Roman Weidenfeller's crossbar. After twenty minutes, the latter half containing a clear cut chance for Marco Reus to to give Dortmund the lead with a free kick, O'Donnell watched his side strike with Subotic intercepted a clearence from Fagner and his play involving  Leitner and Schmelzer was put away by the Polish Captain Blaszackovski and the champions found themselves in the lead. Bas Dost nearly equalized for Wolfsburg but his shot was sent high and wide. The remainder of the game was filled with half chances for the champions and their manager didn't seem to be too happy with sending Wolfsburg away with a narrow defeat. With fifteen minutes left, Dortmund put the game to bed when Gotze's floating corner found the head of Subotic and he cappted off his display with a great headed goal.

O'Donnell does have some injury concerns leading into the game with Panathinaikos in midweek as long term absentee Ivan Perisic is joined by Filipe Santana and Lukasz Piszczek on the sidelines for the game but O'Donnell isn't concerned leading into the pivotal game. "We have the depth to perform in Greece on Wednesday. It's the chance to show some of the younger players in the team and we have the confidence they will perform."







Neven Subotic's performance wasn't hampered by a clash of
heads as his header sealed a Dortmund win over Wolfsburg


BUNDESLIGA MATCHDAY EIGHT RESULTS
Bayern Munich 0-0 Werder Bremen (Fri)
DORTMUND 2-0 WOLFSBURG
Dusseldorf 2-2 Hoffenheim
Frankfurt 1-1 Freiburg
Hamburg 2-0 Monchengladbach
Mainz 0-1 Leverkusen
Stuttgart 1-3 Schalke (18:30)
Furth 2-1 Augsburg (Sun)
Hannover 4-1 Nurnberg (Sun)

 OCTOBER 27TH 2012 - DORTMUND TAKE SPOILS IN DERBY

 'Ciaran O'Donnell watched his side secure a victory over
 Schalke in the VELTINS-Arena thanks to Mario Gotze'





MATCH STATS | RATINGS | TABLE

Mario Gotze's goal made all the difference for Dortmund as they overcame Schalke in the Revier Derby. His late goal made sure that Ciaran O'Donnell was the one that left the happier manager. "Games like this are ones where the players who want it more will perform and tonight, Mario showed we wanted it more and a performance like tonight is the reason why his stock is rising in the game."

The game was one where the defences of both teams shined through for both teams but none more than Dortmund's defence. The start of the game was one that Schalke showed just how much of a threat they are when they kept possession for long durations but couldn't turn the possession into goals when Klass-Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay came close to scoring while Mats Hummels and the Dortmund defence held off a barrage of corners in the early going. At the other end of the pitch, Robert Lewandowski and Marco Reus were being frustrated by their supply being cut off by the Schalke back four. When either side managed to get through, it was the goalkeeping prowess of Roman Weidenfeller and Timo Hildebrand that kept goals from going through. For Schalke, the closest they came to breaking the deadlock was Huntelaar's spot that was turned back by Weidenfeller while Lewandowski's drive just grazed the crossbar when it looked destined for the goal. With eight minutes remaining in the game and no winner in sight, Dortmund created a goal from nothing. Kevin Grosskreutz returned to the team as a second half substitute and his cross was converted by Gotze, the German international sliding in and turned the ball into the net.

Dortmund certainly left the game the happier team and other results went their way, causing them to go six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and go forty-five games unbeaten since last September. O'Donnell turns his attention to the second round of the DFB-Pokal against Sandhausen.






Mario Gotze's goal gave Ciaran O'Donnell the spoils in
his first Revier Derby on Saturday night against Schalke


BUNDESLIGA MATCHDAY NINE RESULTS
Freiburg 1-2 Hoffenheim (Fri)
Augsburg 1-3 Bayern Munich
Hamburg 2-4 Dusseldorf
Monchengladbach 3-1 Mainz
Werder Bremen 1-1 Frankfurt
Wolfsburg 3-0 Furth
SCHALKE 0-1 DORTMUND (KO 18:30)
Nurnberg 2-0 Stuttgart (Sun KO 15:30)
Leverkusen 2-2 Hannover (Sun KO 17:30)