MSV Düsseldorf managed a small sensation in their opening match: They took their first Oberliga point in Velbert with a goal in injury time.
After the final whistle of the opening match of the Oberliga Niederrhein, one could have thought that MSV Düsseldorf had won. While the players of SSVg Velbert stood on the pitch with their heads hanging, the Düsseldorfers celebrated exuberantly. But it was “only” a point that MSV took back to Düsseldorf. But it was a point of great significance for coach Mohamed El Mimouni’s team, as it was the first point in the club’s history in the first Oberliga match. And it was against a team that is considered the top favourite for promotion.
After a rather weaker start, which also saw Velbert take a 1:0 lead, the players of the Oberliga newcomer fought their way back. “I was scared for the first twenty minutes,” admitted El Mimouni after the final whistle. “Velbert did very well there and could have scored two or three goals.” But as the game went on, the Düsseldorfers got better and better and especially in the second half an even game developed.
The team from the state capital had to wait a long time for the equaliser, however. It was only in injury time that substitute Gülmez scored with a low shot. “It’s an indescribable feeling to score in the last minute against such an opponent,” the 24-year-old said happily afterwards. And afterwards he couldn’t stop gushing: “We celebrate the 1-1 like a victory. To take a point to Düsseldorf, that’s simply outstanding.” The fact that MSV Düsseldorf were not impressed by the deficit came as little surprise to him: “We also practice in training not to let our heads hang down.” Another factor, he added, was the climate within the team. “The atmosphere in the team is great, everyone feels comfortable here,” Gülmez emphasised.
The first Oberliga home game for MSV Düsseldorf is next Wednesday (10 August, 19:30) against TSV Meerbusch, before the team travels to Duisburg, to VfB Homberg, on the third matchday (14 August, 15:00). According to Gülmez, the goal is clear: “We want to take six points from the next two games. To do that, we definitely have to be even more concentrated in the next game, but I think we have the quality to win the next games. “