In the week from April 9 to 13, the Berlin U16 junior team went to Duisburg for the DFB International Cup after a two-day preparatory course at the Wannsee Sports School. The squad was made up of players born in 2009/10 from Union Berlin, Hertha BSC, FC Viktoria 1889, BSV Eintracht Mahlsdorf and RW Viktoria Mitte. After arriving at the hotel in Oberhausen on Wednesday evening, everyone was already looking forward to the first match on Thursday.
The first game was against the team from Saxony. Both teams initially struggled to create dangerous scoring chances. However, as the game progressed, the Berlin team took more and more control and created promising opportunities, particularly down the wings. Despite several good chances, they failed to score, meaning that the game ended goalless at 0-0.
In the second match against the Thuringian team, the Berliners were again superior in terms of play. However, the Thuringians mainly relied on quick counter-attacks and kept looking for their striker. After an unsuccessfully defended corner kick, the Berliners initially fell 1:0 behind. Nevertheless, they kept up the pressure and, after further offensive actions, equalized with a well-taken penalty. Shortly afterwards, they scored the 2:1 winner and final goal after a remarkable combination down the right-hand side and a precise one-two pass.
In the following match, the Berlin team suffered its first defeat. The match against the team from South Baden began on an even keel with the Berlin team having a slight advantage in chances. However, after a mistake in the build-up, South Baden took the lead with a long-range shot from around 25 meters. Berlin then increased the pressure and created numerous good opportunities, but were unsuccessful with their finishing. Despite a committed performance, the deserved equalizer would not come. The game ended 0:1.
In the final game, the team from Bavaria awaited. Both teams clearly felt the strain of the previous games: Their strength waned and concentration waned on both sides. This led to a number of technical errors in possession and positional play. The Bavarians took their first good opportunity to take the lead and extended it to 0:2 shortly afterwards. The BFV team scored the equalizer to make it 1-2 after a penalty kick from Berlin was well saved, which also marked the final score.
After the U16 International Cup in Duisburg, the players born in 2009 will move on to the U19s. The players born in 2010 will have another opportunity to prove themselves at the international tournament at the end of May before the new U16 season begins after the summer vacations together with the 2011 age group.
