A lightning goal from Rot-Weiss Essen is not enough. RWE squander a 1-0 lead at Erzgebirge Aue to start the year and lose 2-1.
The year 2024 couldn’t have started much better for Rot-Weiss Essen.
It took just 58 seconds for RWE to take a 1-0 lead away at Erzgebirge Aue. In the end, however, Christoph Dabrowski’s team came away empty-handed.
Cedric Harenbrock made an artistic pass, Leonardo Vonic powered his way through and crossed for Isaiah Young, who coolly slotted home from eleven meters to make it 1-1: The successful and spectacular opening visibly gave the visitors confidence in Aue.
RWE looked wide awake, eager to play and always looking for the way forward. Mostly involved: Vonic, who started up front for the injured Ron Berlinski and missed the 2:0 after five minutes
However, the initial euphoria was soon curbed. Aue recovered, became stronger and stronger and began to test the Essen defense, in which Mustafa Kourouma replaced the suspended Felix Götze. Marcel Bär had the best chance, but his header was saved by Jakob Golz (28′). Shortly afterwards, Marwin Stefaniak narrowly missed (29).
RWE were now mainly occupied with defensive duties in a fast-paced third division match and should not have complained about the equalizer – Bär, for example, missed the equalizer by inches shortly before the break after a corner. At the same time, the visitors also missed several promising counter-attacking opportunities
The second half had barely started when the players on the pitch had to take another break. RWE supporters had set fire to the pitch – the thick smoke from the visitors’ block led to a four-minute interruption.
This hardly detracted from the entertaining game – and certainly not for Essen. They became much more active after the change of ends, attacked the home side earlier and found gaps. Vonic was put under pressure twice at the highest level (55′, 57′). RWE pressed – and ran into a counter-attack. Omar Sijarić marched down the right and fed Bär, who slotted home from a few meters out to make it 1:1 (61′).
The goal gave Aue renewed momentum – Maximilian Thiel failed to beat Golz from a few meters out. RWE were now on the lookout for counter-attacks. Substitute Thomas Eisfeld was unlucky when his shot from eleven meters hit his own man (76′). Andreas Wiegel missed from an acute angle (83′).
The final phase was now even again. But it was hectic: Vinko Sapina, who had already been unsure of himself, lost the ball in stoppage time while building up. The ball ended up with Mirnes Pepic, who converted to make it 2:1 – the final score.
RWE will have the chance to make amends on Tuesday at 7 p.m. when they host Viktoria Köln.
