Young South African attacker, Tashreeq Matthews, took his first steps into the big time this week as he came on for Borussia Dortmund to replace Mario Götze.
The recently-turned 18-year-old completed his move to the German giants earlier this month, going immediately into the UEFA Youth League side as he got his career in Europe underway.
Matthews, who came through the famed Ajax Cape Town youth ranks, was given the chance to train with Dortmund’s first team this week as some of their players ventured across the world for various national team duties, before being given a place in the matchday squad for their friendly against Sportfreunde Lotte.
With the score locked at 2-2 as he came on for Götze, Matthews managed to get on the ball a little bit as his side pushed for the winner, with Jeremy Tolhan getting the winner after he was set up by Shinji Kagawa – his third assist of the game.
The teenager from Hanover Park will now be looking to take his first team experience back into the youth ranks in Germany, and apply it to his game as he looks to work his way through the levels at the club.
