Alemannia Aachen have won the Middle Rhine Cup for the eighth time in the club’s history. Bonner SC was defeated 4:2 in the final in Cologne-Höhenberg.
Even before the game, Erdal Celik, Technical Director of Alemannia, emphasized: “Of course this is a very important game. On the one hand, we want to celebrate the double and on the other hand, soccer is always about financial matters. Participating in the DFB Cup would suit us very well – both in sporting and financial terms,” said Celik.
His wish and that of all Alemannia Aachen officials and fans was fulfilled. In front of over 7,000 fans – around 5,000 of them from Aachen – the Regionalliga West champions defeated the “runners-up” of the Mittelrheinliga, Bonner SC, 4:2 at the Sportpark Höhenberg in Cologne. This means that Aachen will be represented in both the 3rd division and the DFB Cup in the coming season.
Right from the start, the underdogs Bonner SC did not want to hide at all and played a lively game. An encounter at eye level developed. And then Bonner SC were rewarded for their courage early on: Serhat Koruk (15) put the ball in the Alemannia goal – 1:0 for BSC!
The Regionalliga West champions initially had to shake themselves. That lasted around 15 minutes – until Anton Heinz was fouled in the BSC penalty area. Penalty. Heinz grabbed the leather and converted with ice-cold precision – 1:1 (29′). From then on, the Alemanni pressed and were rewarded before the break with a 2:1 (43′) from Thilo Töpken.
Aachen came out of the break strongly, but Alemannia were unable to create a top-class goal. It was a different story for Bonn: Michael Okoroafor made it 2:2 with the first dangerous action in the second half (58′).
The decision was made in the 66th minute: Dustin Wilms made it 3:2 with a powerful shot. In the 89th minute, substitute Rudolf González actually had the chance to equalize, but he shot the ball right into the arms of Aachen goalkeeper Marcel Johnen. Sascha Strujic then made it 4:2 in stoppage time.
Like the 2023/2024 Regionalliga West champions, the 2024 Mittelrhein Cup winners will be Alemannia Aachen!
The statistics for the match
Alemannia Aachen: Johnen – Winter (83rd Heister), Rumpf, Hanraths, Strujic – Müller (59th Baum), Schwermann, Scepanik (80th Marquet) – Heinz (90th Uzelac), Töpken, Bapoh (23rd Wilms)
Bonner SC: Michel – Omerbasic, Keita, Dogan (51. Goralski), Wipperfürth – Pommer, Okoroafor (77. Gonzalez), Augusto (79. Braun) – Strobl, Koruk, Berg
Referee: Ivan Mrkalj
Goals: 0:1 Koruk (15.), 1:1 Heinz (30.), 2:1 Töpken (43.), 2:2 Okoroafor (58.), 3:2 Wilms (66.), 4:2 Strujic (90.+3)
Yellow cards: Heinz, Müller – Dogan, Augusto, Keita, Birk
Yellow-Red: Pommer (84.)
Spectators: 7242