Dortmund’s U19 talents secured a thrilling victory in the semi-final against Hertha Berlin, winning 8-7 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in the first leg. The hero of the match was goalkeeper Robin Lisewski, who saved the first penalty before Cole Campbell scored the decisive spot-kick. The young stars showed resilience after falling behind in the first half, with Kjell Wätjen and Campbell scoring to level the game.
In the second half, Dortmund’s U19 team, the best in the Bundesliga-West with 70 points, stepped up their game. Wätjen and Campbell added two quick goals to give Dortmund the lead. However, Hertha Berlin fought back with goals from Ndi and Roelke, setting up a tense finish. The match went to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, where Dortmund emerged victorious and booked their spot in the final against Hoffenheim on June 2.
The final promises to be an exciting showdown, possibly taking place at the Westfalenstadion in front of a large crowd. A win for Dortmund would mark their 5th title in nine years and their 2nd under the guidance of coach Mike Tullberg. The young talents have shown great character throughout the tournament, and their journey to the final is truly a remarkable story in German youth football.
