The first two semi-finalists of the U19 Lower Rhine Cup have been decided. While Borussia Mönchengladbach clearly prevailed, TSV Meerbusch experienced a thriller against RWO.
The first two quarter-finals of the U19 Lower Rhine Cup were played on Sunday. Borussia Mönchengladbach and TSV Meerbusch prevailed and booked the first two semi-final tickets.
Borussia Mönchengladbach’s U19s did not allow any tension to build. After the first 45 minutes, the young foals were already 3:0 ahead, with striker Winsley Boteli, who had already aroused the interest of top European clubs at the beginning of the year, scoring twice (11th, 42nd). Even the four changes on the VfB Homberg side could not avert the cup exit. Shortly before the end, Hoxha (87′) and Uwakhonye (90′) scored to make the final score 5:0. The Gladbach U19s thus continue their march towards defending their title.
Things were much closer between TSV Meerbusch and RWO. After 70 goalless minutes, a red card from Meerbusch kicked off a crazy game. Just five minutes later, Zinedine Durmus scored to make it 1:0 for Oberhausen.
RWO held on to the lead until stoppage time, when 18-year-old goalkeeper Kalle Maria Grabek equalized for TSV. The hosts saved themselves until the penalty shoot-out, which they won 6:5 in the end.
The penultimate quarter-final match of the U19 Lower Rhine Cup is scheduled for next week. VfL Rhede will host Fortuna Düsseldorf on April 16 at 7 pm. To date, VfL has won convincingly with 6:1 (FC Remscheid) and 4:1 (SG Kaarst 1912/35). Fortuna defeated VfB 03 Hilden 5:1 and Dostlukspor Bottrop 1:0 on their way to the quarter-finals, before losing to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the final last season.
A derby awaits us in the other quarter-final. Rot-Weiss Essen will host MSV Duisburg. Just like on Sunday evening in the men’s 3rd division, the rivals will clash on April 24 at 6:30 pm.
While MSV won 5:0 against SF Baumberg and 1:0 against Wuppertaler SV, RWE defeated TVD Velbert 11:2 and 1. FC Kleve 5:1. At the same time, this pairing is a rematch of the U19 Lower Rhine Cup final in 2022, when RWE won