Thanks to substitute Marek Janssen, Rot-Weiss Essen managed to salvage a point at home against VfB Stuttgart II.

Rot-Weiss Essen salvaged a point against VfB Stuttgart II in a frantic closing phase to kick off Matchday 17 of the 3. Liga. Despite a lackluster performance, it was Marek Janssen who scored the late 1-1 (0-0) equalizer for RWE. Shortly before that, Ahmet Arslan had missed from the spot after the visitors had capitalized on a slip by José-Enrique Ríos Alonso.

The Essen side, with Felix Wienand in goal for the ill Jakob Golz, could only watch as the strong-playing visitors controlled both the ball and their opponents in the opening stages.

In the sixth minute, things got dangerously close for the first time: After Christopher Olivier beat Tobias Kraulich, he crossed into the middle, where Lauri Penna tried to push the ball over the line from close range—Wienand prevented the deficit with a brilliant save. Ten minutes later, he was on hand again: Mansour Ouro-Tagba had left Kraulich in his wake following a pass from Noah Darvich and fired from a tight angle.

And Essen? They didn’t get into the game until just past the 20-minute mark, coincidentally right when Stuttgart midfielder Darvich had to leave the field due to injury (23′). The home side’s first scoring chances followed promptly: Kaito Mizuta’s header was blocked by a VfB defender, and Tim Moustier’s follow-up shot was deflected decisively out of bounds (28th minute). It was a rare foray forward.

Stuttgart continued to dominate the game and controlled the midfield. That was as far as it went, however, as the RWE defense held firm. The offense, on the other hand, was virtually non-existent. A telling example: Torben Müsel shot from a good position, but the ball hit Jannik Mause’s arm.

Essen started the second half more aggressively and pressed higher up the field. But VfB soon took control again: the unstoppable Ouro-Tagba hit the post after a cross from Penna (50th minute).

RWE posed a threat only on the counterattack: Müsel’s shot following a pass from Safi was, however, too weak (59′). It wasn’t until just past the hour mark that coach Uwe Koschinat’s team managed to establish a foothold in the opponent’s half. They nearly succeeded: Müsel missed at the near post after a cross from Jannik Hofmann, and Kraulich’s volley was saved by Florian Hellstern.

The closing stages, however, belonged to the visitors once again: Efe Korkut suddenly appeared in front of Wienand, but the Golz-trained goalkeeper made a strong save. A minute later, he had no chance: Rios Alonso slipped as the last man after being pressured by Mohamed Sankoh. Stuttgart’s substitute took advantage and nutmegged Wienand for a deserved 1-0 lead from VfB’s perspective (80th minute).

RWE threw everything forward and Stuttgart gave in! Sankoh tried to block a cross but handled the ball—penalty! Substitute Ahmet Arslan stepped up to take it but was denied by Hellstern, who had guessed the right corner (89′). The resulting corner, however, was capitalized on: Mizuta crossed the second ball into the box, where substitute Janssen nodded it in for the 1-1 equalizer (90′). A fortunate conclusion for Essen to a wild final phase.