Borussia Dortmund II 3-2 SV Rodinghausen — Borussia Dortmund II edged SV Rodinghausen 3-2 in a five-goal thriller in the German Regionalliga on 13 September 2026, with the young Dortmund side showing character to hold off a determined second-half comeback.

Dortmund II began the match with the energy expected of a development team and raced into an early lead. Rodinghausen responded well after the break, pulling a goal back and then equalising to set up a tense finish. But Dortmund found one more decisive moment late on, sealing a valuable home win that keeps them in the promotion conversation in the Regionalliga West.

Match overview

The hosts dominated the opening exchanges, pressing Rodinghausen high and forcing mistakes in the defensive third. Dortmund II’s first goal came from that pressure, with a quick turnover followed by a low finish. Their second arrived soon after, a flowing move that highlighted the technical quality of the side’s attacking midfielders.

Rodinghausen changed their shape at half-time and began to find space behind Dortmund’s advanced full-backs. They scored early in the second half and then levelled with a set-piece header, suddenly putting the home side on the back foot. The match became stretched, with chances at both ends, before Dortmund II grabbed the winner in the final fifteen minutes.

Key moments

• Early Dortmund pressure: The home side took the lead after a high turnover and a composed finish.
• Two-goal cushion: Dortmund doubled their advantage with a sweeping attacking move.
• Rodinghausen fightback: The visitors scored twice after the break, first from open play and then from a corner.
• Late winner: Dortmund II found the decisive goal after a quick counter-attack down the right.

Tactical story

Dortmund II lined up in a 4-3-3 and looked to overload the wide areas, using their full-backs to create numerical advantages. Their pressing was aggressive but occasionally left gaps, which Rodinghausen exploited after half-time by playing more direct football. The visitors’ switch to a 4-4-2 gave them a stronger platform in midfield and allowed their strikers to attack crosses.

The game ultimately turned on Dortmund’s ability to regain control in the final twenty minutes. Their midfield trio began to win second balls again, and their substitutes added fresh legs in attacking positions. Rodinghausen defended deep in the closing stages, but Dortmund’s patience and movement created the winning opening.

Standout players

Dortmund II’s attacking midfielder was at the heart of everything good, contributing a goal and an assist. The centre-forward also impressed with his hold-up play and intelligent runs. For Rodinghausen, the goalkeeper made several strong saves to keep his side in the match, and their captain in defence was commanding in the air. The substitute who scored the equaliser changed the tempo of the game for the visitors.

Season impact

The three points lift Borussia Dortmund II further up the Regionalliga table and underline their credentials as a side capable of mixing it with more experienced teams. SV Rodinghausen will take encouragement from their second-half performance but will be frustrated to leave empty-handed after fighting back from two goals down. In a league where consistency is everything, Dortmund’s ability to win tight matches could prove crucial by the end of the season.