Rot-Weiss Essen ended a great season unsatisfactorily. The 2023/2024 third division season came to an end with two defeats and a draw.

Rot-Weiss Essen, supported by around 3,000 RWE fans, had to settle for a 3-3 draw at relegated VfB Lübeck on the final matchday.

As a result, the Essen side bowed out of the 2023/2024 season with three games in a row without a win – 0:2 at Sandhausen, 0:1 against 1860 and 3:3 in Lübeck – including 7th place in the table.

VfB Lübeck got off to a perfect start – thanks in part to an individual mistake by Essen. Vinko Sapina played the ball right into the feet of Niklas Hauptmann, Lübeck’s number seven took heart and humorlessly slammed the ball into the corner from around 20 meters. A beautiful goal to make it 1:0 (5′) for VfB.

But RWE’s reply came just 180 minutes later: After a rehearsed free-kick variation, Leonardo Vonic slid the ball into the Lübck goal after a pass from Thomas Eisfeld – 1:1 (8.).

However, this goal did not give Essen any security. On the contrary: Coach Christoph Dabrowski’s charges repeatedly made mistakes in their build-up play and the venomous Lübeck side were always dangerous – as in minute 20: Hauptmann shot over the Essen goal from close range – a great Lübeck chance!

A VfB corner followed – and it was a good one. First the ball was blocked, but Emanuel Adou shot from behind to make it 2:1 (21′). Jakob Golz didn’t look too happy either.

And Rot-Weiss Essen? There was little to see from the visitors from the Ruhr region. And yet, although the performance in the first 45 minutes was not right, RWE went into the break with a 2:2 draw – thanks to Leonardo Vonic’s brace.

Eisfeld played a fantastic pass to Sandro Plechaty in the 42nd minute, who replaced the injured Marvin Obuz after 30 minutes. Essen’s number 21 showed great vision and played the ball straight into the net for Vonic – 2:2!

Anyone who thought that RWE would show their true colors after the restart was not disappointed. At least Essen were much more dangerous than in the first half.

But first the home side. Just three minutes after the break, Essen were again too careless defensively and Janek Sternberg (48) suddenly found himself free and slotted the ball into the net from ten meters – 3:2 for Lübeck.

In the 56th minute, it was RWE’s turn: Isaiah Young headed the ball against the crossbar, a good effort from the winger. Five minutes later: Eisfeld (61) takes a shot and hits the crossbar. That was somewhat reminiscent of the second half against 1860 Munich when Rot-Weiss hit the aluminum three times and ultimately lost 0:1.

However, Lübeck kept going and had their chances. One example: In the 65th minute, Ulrich Taffertshofer headed past the goal from a free position.

But then it was back to Essen in the person of Leonardo Vonic. Nils Kaiser set up Vonic, who shot from distance, the ball was deflected by Jannik Löhden and dropped into the far corner – 3:3 (73′). That was the final score in a lively season finale between Lübeck and Essen, who still had aluminum luck on their side at the end. Farrona-Pulido hit the crossbar in the 86th minute