Third division team Rot-Weiss Essen are in the Lower Rhine Cup semi-finals after a nail-biting victory in Sonsbeck. However, Christoph Dabrowski was not satisfied with the performance.

For the third time in the current Niederrheinpokal season, Rot-Weiss Essen had to play an Oberliga team.

After beating Mülheimer FC 97 and VfB Hilden 2-0 each, RWE were guests at SV Sonsbeck on Saturday. So much in advance: the defending champions struggled to a 3-1 (0-1) victory and only just avoided a cup embarrassment.

Klaus Keisers put RWE behind in the very first minute. Sonsbeck managed to defend this lead in the Willy-Lemkens-Sportpark until the 87th minute, but then the guest finally lived up to the role of favorite and booked its semi-final ticket with three late goals.

RWE head coach Christoph Dabrowski had to take a deep breath after the final whistle. The coach also knew how close victory and defeat were on this Saturday afternoon: “Of course, it doesn’t feel good when you’re behind for so long.”

Dabrowski then had some critical words about the performance in the first 45 minutes, when the fifth-tier team took a 1-0 lead, which they deserved, and even had a good chance of going 2-0 up.

“The first half was unacceptable. The attitude, the way we went into it, or the tackling. We weren’t there from the start. It was completely unsatisfactory and too sloppy. It got better in the second half, and we saw a clear improvement with our backs to the wall. But you can see that our situation is not easy. Some of the players might have second thoughts. That’s why it was important for us as a club to advance to the next round,” explained the RWE coach.

Even though Dabrowski couldn’t see much positive in the game, the 46-year-old still gave special praise to his central defender José-Enrique Ríos Alonso, who was brought on at half-time:

There is also a prime example. Ríos Alonso wins every tackle, whether in a village square, whether against a regional, national or third division player. That’s an attitude that will help us move forward. Some people can learn from that.

Christoph Dabrowski.

“At half time, I tried to be clear and direct. We also had some great fans with us who had come along. That’s an obligation. In our situation anyway. You really appeal to heart and passion. Then it got better. There’s also a prime example. Ríos Alonso wins every duel, whether in a village square, whether against a regional league, upper league or third league opponent. That’s an attitude that helps us move forward. One or two can learn from that.”