In an intense top match between Dynamo Dresden and Rot-Weiss Essen, the points were shared (2:2). A lucky point for the Essen side, for whom goalkeeper Golz excelled.

After Jahn Regensburg (1st) and SSV Ulm (3rd), Rot-Weiss Essen completed the top game weeks on matchday 27 of the 3rd division. The second-placed team in the table, Dynamo Dresden, awaited the Essen team. After an intense match in front of over 30,000 spectators at the Rudolf Harbig Stadium, the points were shared – and the visitors had their goalkeeper to thank for it.

First things first: RWE went into game one following the contract extension of head coach Christoph Dabrowski with three changes. Eric Voufack (syndesmosis ligament tear) and José-Enrique Ríos Alonso (suspension) were replaced by the recovered Lucas Brumme and Mustafa Kourouma. In addition, Leonardo Vonic was replaced by Ron Berlinski in the center of the Essen attack.

And RWE got off to a dream start in the Saxon state capital. Marvin Obuz played a superb through ball to Harenbrock, who struck left-footed from an acute angle (6′). However, the lead was not to last long in the turbulent opening phase, partly because Essen gave the visitors a gift: An actually harmless finish from Tom Zimmerschied was allowed to pass into the goal by Jakob Golz in the eleventh minute – a clear goalkeeping error! But the unlucky player was to redeem himself.

Dynamo continued to press on the Essen goal, who had major problems with the Dresden attack. There, goalkeeper Golz made several brilliant saves, such as against Dennis Borkowski (18th/28th), and kept Red & White in the game after his blunder

The fact that not much was working in the Essen defense made the attack all the more efficient: A free-kick from Thomas Eisfeld after just over half an hour became longer and longer and found its way into the far corner (34′). Out of nowhere, RWE were more than happy to be back in front.

And again and again the thanks went to goalkeeper Golz, who stood out in defense and saved first Zimmerschied (37′) and then Borkowski (42′) for the third time. RWE went into the half-time break with a 2:1 lead.

Dresden equalize quickly

Both teams came out of the break unchanged and RWE’s defensive performance also remained shaky. Only this time, Dresden were able to exploit this immediately, with Zimmerschied scoring his second goal after a mistake by Isaiah Young (47′). This time Golz was also powerless, having to make several saves after the equalizer.

It continued to be a one-goal game, and in the 68th minute there was more jubilation in the Rudolf Harbig Stadium. Zimmerschied scored to make it 3:2, but referee Lukas Benen correctly ruled for offside and silenced the cheers.

The final phase began and both coaches made their first changes. Just under ten minutes before the final whistle, the next chance came out of nowhere for RWE. However, Sascha Voelcke did not accept an invitation from Kevin Broll and put the ball just outside the box (79′).

There was another scare for RWE in stoppage time: After a Dresden corner kick, the crossbar saved the ball for Essen, who were able to clear it. However, Felix Götze was then badly hit on the head and had to be taken off after his bleeding head was treated. After that, it was over.

The result was a flattering point for Dabrowski’s side, who will host SpVgg Unterhaching at Hafenstraße next Saturday (March 2, 4.30 p.m.).