Rot-Weiß Oberhausen has fought its way into the next round of the Niederrheinpokal against a Landesliga team.
Phew! This is not what everyone associated with Rot-Weiß Oberhausen had imagined. The regional league team fought its way into the Lower Rhine Cup round of 16 against VfL Jüchen-Garzweiler, a team from the regional league. After trailing 0:2 and 2:3, RWO finally won 5:3.
The match started surprisingly: The Landesliga team did not hide at all in the Stadion Niederrhein. On the contrary, the visitors even took the lead after seven minutes. Fatlum Ahmeti took off from the edge of the penalty area and got a creamy finish, the ball chipped over RWO keeper Robin Benz and under the crossbar.
Coach Jörn Nowak’s Oberhausen team had a hard time against the Landesliga team, which defended with all its might and repeatedly made pinpricks. Rinor Rexha (26., 30.) had the equaliser twice.
And those who do not make the most of their opportunities will be punished. Old football wisdom, which was to prove true up to a certain point this evening. Corner kick Jüchen-Garzweiler, Sven Moseler was pulled down during the execution and hindered from running in – the referee consequently decided on penalty kick. Ahmeti was grateful – 2:0 (33.) for the Landesligist!
From then on,
RWO acted with a lot of anger in their belly – and were rewarded. Fabian Holthaus (40th) reduced the deficit before half-time.
And shortly after the restart, the regional league team was relieved: Lucas Esser (52nd) slipped unfortunately into a sharp RWO cross – 2:2 (52nd).
Anyone who thought that from now on only Oberhausen would be responsible for scoring goals was proved wrong.
What a goal! An outstanding move with an even more beautiful finish put the underdogs back in the lead. Pascal Moseler, who had just come on as a substitute, smashed the ball ice-cold into the corner with a pack of confidence – 3:2 for VfL Jüchen-Garzweiler after 60 minutes.
Oberhausen’s coach Nowak meanwhile brought in all his regulars. RWO had to fight back against the embarrassment. And that’s what the fourth-division team did – in the person of Moritz Stoppelkamp, who scored the 3:3 (73.)
And just one minute later, Oberhausen breathed a sigh of relief: Tobias Boche scored the 4:3 and knocked out the bravely fighting underdogs. Stoppelkamp (83rd) increased the score to 5:3.
It remained a flattering 5:3 for the regional league team over the Landesliga team. But as RWO sporting director Patrick Bauder said before the game: “In the Niederrheinpokal, it’s always about getting through to the next round. That is also our goal and our duty on Tuesday.” The team has fulfilled this duty. No one will be asking “how” in a few days.
The 2nd round of the Niederrheinpokal at a glance
Rot-Weiß Oberhausen – VfL Viktoria Jüchen-Garzweiler 5:3
Schwarz-Weiß Alstaden – Wuppertaler SV 4:3 n.V.
Tusem Essen – DV Solingen 2:6
1. FC Monheim – VfB Homberg 7:6 n.E.
Wednesday, 27 September, 7.30 p.m:
TuRU Düsseldorf – SV Straelen
FSV Duisburg – Sportfreunde Baumberg
1st FC Monheim – VfB Homberg
VfR Krefeld-Fischeln – SC Union Nettetal
SV Mönchengladbach – Germania Ratingen 04/19
Sportfreunde Hamborn 07 – VfB 03 Hilden
SC St. Tönis – Rot-Weiss Essen
SV Sonsbeck – 1. FC Bocholt
1st FC Kleve – ETB Schwarz-Weiß Essen
Thursday, 28 September:
PSV Wesel-Lackhausen – TVD Velbert 7.30 pm
TSV Wachtendonk-Wankum – Spielvereinigung Schonnebeck
Tuesday, 3 October, 3.00 p.m:
FC Kray – SSVg Velbert
Wednesday, 11 October, 7.30 pm:
KFC Uerdingen – MSV Duisburg