Matchday 6 of the Regionalliga West saw coach Enrico Maaßen's BVB U23 side continue their unbeaten run and climb to the top of the table. The Black & Yellows nonetheless came away from their 1-1 draw with Bonner SC on Sunday with a tinge of disappointment. Borussia dominated the match but were unable to capitalise on their various chances and ultimately had to make do with a share of the spoils.

Personnel: BVB coach Enrico Maaßen made three changes to the side that won 4-1 away to SC Wiedenbrück. Henri Weigelt, Ansgar Knauff and Richmond Tachie moved into the starting line-up to replace Maximilian Hippe (illness), Aday Ercan and Dominik Wanner.

The match & analysis: BVB had their foot on the gas from the first kick of the ball and were able to create several early opportunities. Former Borussia youth keeper Jonas Hupe made two good saves for Bonner in the opening stages, but in the 9th minute, he was left with no chance: Taylan Duman drove forward into the box and drilled a right-footed effort towards goal. The shot wouldn't have caused much of a problem for the Bonner goalkeeper if it weren't for a wicked deflection off a defender's leg which sent the ball into the back of the net. The Black & Yellows were visibly relieved to take an early lead. In the ensuing stages, they played very assured and mature football for such a young team, moving the ball around the park with ease and controlling proceedings. Again and again, BVB put the visitors under threat with their fast-paced and direct attacking football. All that was lacking was the all-important finishing touch, as was the case in the 30th minute: Alaa Bakir received the ball on the halfway line and drove forward past two opponents before playing the ball to Knauff, who dribbled past two defenders in the box and slipped the ball to Tachie. He had time and space to direct his shot, but he was unable to get the better of the outstanding Jonas Hupe in the Bonner goal. Just two minutes later, Bakir again provided the attacking impetus. He played the ball through to Richmond Tachie, whose outstretched leg sent the ball into the back of the net only for the referee to call the play back for offside. No matter what they did, BVB were unable to find a second goal. 

Bonner came out from the dressing room at half-time with a renewed sense of purpose and were able to put BVB under pressure. In the 51st minute, Marcel Damaschek headed home from a corner to draw the away team level at 1-1. Not long afterwards, the impressive Taylan Duman launched a Dortmund attack. He found Tachie in space, but his sharp cross into the box was cleared to safety by a desperate Bonner defender. In the 63rd minute, Tachie again swung in a cross from the right wing. The ball made its way to Alaa Bakir, but unfortunately for BVB, the youngster was unable to sort his feet out and unleash a shot. Two minutes later, it was Bakir again who had a chance: this time, he drove into the box from the left but was unable to beat the keeper with his effort on goal. The next big goal-scoring opportunity fell to Taylan Duman in the 68th minute: substitute Krebs fired a cross towards the back post where Duman was lurking with intent. The midfielder struck the ball on the volley but his effort soared over the bar. Not long afterwards, Ansgar Knauff saw his shot palmed to safety by Jonas Hupe. The Black & Yellows piled on the pressure and fashioned several good chances to find a winner: a 75th minute effort from Wanner was deflected wide, while an 81st minute shot from Duman flew just wide of the target. No matter what they did, BVB couldn't quite force the ball into the back of the Bonner net. ''There are days like this when it seems like the goal is boarded shut. We need to learn from this and keep working so that we can make the most of our chances,'' said coach Enrico Maaßen after the final whistle.

The Black & Yellows continued to push hard in what remained of the match. Tigges played a dangerous cross into the box four minutes before the end, but no BVB players were able to get on the end of it. Maaßen's side kept probing, but they were unable to find an opening in the Rhinelander's solid defence. When the final whistle blew after 94 minutes of hard-fought football, the Borussia players sunk to the ground in disappointment. ''We played really well. We pressed hard and we created a lot of chances. Everything was spot on, it's just the chance conversion that was missing,'' said an upbeat Maaßen, going on to add: ''I can't criticise my team. We've just had two busy weeks but we still ran ourselves into the ground today. When you add that to the quality we have, it's a great combination.''

Outlook: BVB have no matches lined up for the coming week. The coaching staff have decided to give the players a few days' rest. 

BVB U23s: Unbehaun - Maloney, Weigelt, Dams, Hober, Duman, Pfanne, Knauff, Bakir (65, Krebs), Tachie (73, Wanner), Tigges

Goals: 1-0 Duman (9), Damaschek (51)