Regional league side Rot-Weiß Oberhausen played out a 2:2 draw against 1. FC Düren on Thursday evening.

At the request of the clubs, the West German Football Association (WDFV) brought forward the match between Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and 1. FC Düren. The match was originally scheduled for Easter Saturday, but was now played on Thursday evening at the Stadion Niederrhein.

For RWO, the aim was to return to winning ways after four games without a win in a row and, above all, to gain confidence ahead of the important Lower Rhine Cup semi-final against Sportfreunde Baumberg (April 2, 7.30 pm). RWO failed in this endeavor, drawing 2-2 (1-1) in front of 2092 fans and failing to score for the fifth time in a row.

After an evenly poised opening phase with few chances, Oberhausen took the lead through a goal from Cottrell Ezekwem (12′). From then on, the home side dominated the game, but made too little of their possession advantages.

That was punished in the 27th minute when Düren’s Simon Breuer equalized out of nowhere. The visitors went into half-time with this result, even though Ismail Harnafi even had the chance to make it 2:1 for the visitors

After the break, Oberhausen stepped on the gas pedal in the first ten minutes, but were rarely dangerous in the final third and played too sluggishly. Düren defended well and RWO lacked ideas.

Just when it looked like the score would be 1:1, events took a dramatic turn in stoppage time: Breuer first scored to make it 2:1 for the visitors (91′), before Tim Stappmann was able to equalize for the Cloverleaves by return of post and at least secure a point (92′).

Rot-Weiß Oberhausen now have a demanding English week ahead of them: After the Lower Rhine Cup semi-final against the Oberliga leaders from Baumberg, where the Cloverleafs will be looking to secure their place in the final, they have an away game at Wuppertaler SV on the agenda four days later (6 April, 2 p.m.). Düren continue their campaign with a home match against newly promoted FC Gütersloh, also on April 6.