The moods could not be more different. While RWE were celebrating their fifth win in a row, the Mannheim players had to explain to the fans why things weren’t going well.

One thing has changed at Rot-Weiss Essen in the 3rd division. After four 2:1 victories, RWE did not even concede a goal against Waldhof Mannheim – after 90 minutes the score was 2:0.

The reward: RWE remains in third place, the gap to the bottom is widening and self-confidence is growing from week to week. Most importantly, nobody has to look down these weeks, as VfB Lübeck in first place are already 14 points away.

After the next success, Essen coach [b]Christoph Dabrowski was delighted: “We had control of the game in the first half, but not good positioning. We didn’t have the necessary consistency and clarity in our actions. At half-time, we decided that we needed more energy and dynamism in our passing game. We then needed this can opener. All in all, it was a good second half and a deserved win. We’re very happy at the moment.”

The mood at opponents Waldhof Mannheim is different. After the 2-0 defeat, the crisis is getting worse. Waldhof are in 18th place with just 13 points and instead of fighting for promotion, they are fighting for survival.

That’s why there was a lot to talk about after the game. The players and coach Rüdiger Rehm went into the stands and had long discussions with the angry fans. There weren’t that many of them left, the visitors’ curve in Essen was already fuller

Those who were in Essen had their coffee on for the time being. Because their team has been without a win for seven games. Substitute goalkeeper Lucien Hawryluk, who came on for the injured Jan-Christoph Bartels in the first half, told “MagentaSport”: “We have to keep working. We had our chances, but we knew how difficult it would be. Essen are on a run. This phase is very difficult for us. We have a young team that has to think positively. I also understand the fans who are angry. They travel so much, we don’t deliver results, we have to finally bring that onto the pitch. “

Hawryluk himself put in a good performance, including saving a penalty from Marvin Obuz. The goalkeeper explained: “I was quite sure where the ball was going when I took the penalty. “