Match Report
Legends, heroes, champions: Kuba's team beats Piszczu's 5-4 in farewell match
Team Piszcu, wearing BVB's black away shirts, played towards the South Stand in the first half, while Team Kuba, who were decked out in the yellow home shirts, started at the other end with Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic in central defence. The so-called "Kinderriegel" from 2008 held the defence together well in front of Roman Weidenfeller. However, the 2014 World Cup winner still needed to intervene for the first time after five minutes when Julian Schieber almost went clean through – only for Hummels and Subotic to combine with Weidenfeller to ensure they did not concede the first goal.
The opening stage saw the two teams sound each other out and featured some minor communication difficulties and one or two crosses that flew well over the frame of the goal. But the BVB veterans increasingly settled into the match and it took only nine minutes until the South Stand was celebrating for the first time: Nelson Valdez, who made 113 appearances in Black & Yellow from 2006 to 2010, asserted himself in the box and cut the ball back to Kamil Grosicki, who struck the ball powerfully in front of the six-yard box and made it 1-0 to Team Kuba – Jaroslav Drobny in goal for Team Piszczu had no chance. Grosicki, a team-mate of Kuba and Piszczu in the Polish national team for many years, was cheered by the South Stand for his goal. The name rolled easily off the tongue for the Dortmund fans, which might also have had something to do with the fact his name sounded similar to that of a certain Thomas Rosicky.
After taking the lead, Kuba's lads exercised more control over the game. But it was Piszczu's side that scored the next goal. And it was none other than BVB head coach Nuri Sahin who showcased his skills, beating Roman Weidenfeller with a stunning lob following a one-two with Gonzalo Castro to level the scores at 1-1 (13).
Even though the match was a bit of a slow-burner, the supporters at the stadium were shown exactly what they had made the pilgrimage to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK for on this sunny Saturday afternoon: Neven Subotic, who made an unbelievable sprint to intervene before the ball went out of play. Roman Weidenfeller, who plucked a cross out of the sky with the South Stand behind him. Papa Sokratis, who calmly stopped the ball in front of the goal-line in the six-yard box. And Marcel Schmelzer, who sped up the play down the flank with a long ball.
The first drinks break took place after 22 minutes and suddenly it got loud in the stadium: Mats Hummels was substituted and completed a farewell lap while Jürgen Klopp, notebook in hand, swore in his team for the next 25 minutes. Hummels was replaced at the back by Felipe Santana, who immortalised himself by scoring the last-gasp winner against Malaga in the Champions League in 2013.
Moritz Leitner repeatedly stood out for Team Piszczu – and not only because he ran around the pitch with his shorts pulled up high in a manner reminiscent of Manni Burgsmüller. On the other side, it was Sahin who attracted attention going forward time and time again. But the goal to make it 2-1 to Team Kuba at half-time was scored by Mladen Petric, who had by now been brought on. After the always lively Mohamed Zidan had played a cross into the penalty area from the right and Drobny had only gotten his fingers to the ball, the ex-Dortmund man mercilessly rounded his opponent and slotted home to make it 2-1 to Kuba's team (43).
Brace in front of the South Stand for Lucas Barrios
Kuba initially stayed on the bench with an icepack on his knee after the break – but watched on and celebrated from there as Kamil Grosicki slotted home his second goal, beating Marwin Hitz, who had replaced Jaroslav Drobny, from close range and making it 3-1 for Kuba (49).
Shortly afterwards, another goal was attributed to Felipe Santana – this one might have gone into his own net and reduced the deficit to 3-2 for Team Piszczu, but on this occasion every goal scored at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK was celebrated frenetically by the fans. There were also cheers for BVB legend Dede, who was the recipient of chants, and Ebi Smolarek, who unsuccessfully – but skilfully – attempted a bicycle kick.
Then, in the 59th minute, Henrikh Mkhitaryan showed why he was so beloved by the BVB fans. After a delicate cross in towards Arthur Wichniarek, Team Piszczu were level – but not for long. At the other end, Lucas Barrios was the next player to get himself on the scoresheet after an assist from Grosicky. 4-3 to Team Kuba (60).
The team's namesake was back on the pitch again by this point – and what an impact he made! After a lovely solo run in midfield, Dortmund's No 16. threaded the ball between the central defenders towards Lucas Barrios, who scored to make it 5-3 and celebrated his goal in front of the South Stand with his arms outstretched as he used to do (77). Pure nostalgia at the stadium in Dortmund.
There was also some game time for a current Borussia player, who was deservedly cheered for scoring the goal to cut the deficit to 5-4 for Piszczu's team: Julian Brandt, who performed well on the pitch alongside his coach Nuri Sahin, asserted himself well against Marcin Wasilewski in the box and ensured Roman Weidenfeller conceded for the fourth time (81).
However, the many goal celebrations did not produce a louder noise than in the 89th minute: Kuba and Piszczek were substituted and cheered for the last time and amid loud chants, while their team-mates on the pitch allowed the final minute of the game to draw to a leisurely close. A worthy end to two incredible BVB careers.
Farewell match
TEAM KUBA 5-4 (2-1) TEAM PISZCZU
Team Kuba starting line-up: Roman Weidenfeller – Marcin Wasilewski, Neven Subotic, Mats Hummels, Leonardo Dede, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Kamil Grosicki, Moritz Leitner, Antonio da Silva, Nelson Valdez, Lucas Barrios
Team Kuba bench: Julian Koch, Felipe Santana, Marcin Wasilewski, Giovanni Federico, Kevin Großkreutz, Mohamed Zidan, Mladen Petric, Nelson Valdez
Team Piszczu starting line-up: Jaroslav Drobny – Lukasz Piszczek, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Erik Durm, Marcel Schmelzer, Ömer Toprak, Nuri Sahin, Gonzalo Castro, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Adrian Ramos, Julian Schieber
Team Piszczu bench: Marwin Hitz, Joo-Hoo Park, Oliver Kirch, Florian Kringe, Jacek Krzynowek, Artur Wichniarek, Dominik Zieba, Krzysztof Kiklaisz, Julian Brandt
Goals: 1-0 Grosicky (9), 1-1 Sahin (13), 2-1 Petric (43), 3-1 Grosicki (49), 3-2 Santana (own goal, 53), 3-3 Wichniarek (59), 4-3 Barrios (60), 5-3 Barrios (77), 5-4 Brandt (81)
First-half referees: Dr. Paul Hadrossek (BVB), Sebastian Strube (assistant, SV Westrich 55), Tobias Kraeling (assistant, VFB Lünen 08), Thomas Eckert (fourth official, BVB)
Half-time match referee: Oskar Teichert (Wambeler SV)
Second-half referees: Marian Zabell (BVB), Adrian Mazurkiewicz (assistant, VFB Westhofen), Fabian Bernschein (assistant, Rot-Weiß Germania 11/67), Michael Leimbach (fourth official, BVB)
Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: sunny, 28 degrees