The match between Rot-Weiss Essen and Preußen Münster had to be interrupted twice in the second half. Because of pyrotechnics – and because of the turf.

Drama in the hotly anticipated third division derby between Rot-Weiss Essen and Preußen Münster on Sunday evening!

For a long time, the meeting of the former regional league rivals remained at 0-0. It was only in the fourth minute of injury time that Thomas Eisfeld appeared in the Münster penalty area and decided the duel in favour of the hosts with his goal to make the final score 1-0.

Before that, the fans at the almost sold-out Hafenstraße had seen a lively match in which more goals could have been scored – and which was briefly interrupted twice in the second half.

The journey to the high-risk match had been uneventful. The visiting fans travelled peacefully from the main station to Bergeborbeck. And in the stadium, too, things remained quiet at first. There was, however, a small jibe from the RWE stadium announcer before kick-off: “We didn’t miss you,” he said when welcoming the Preußen fans.

The picture changed at the start of the second half. The Prussia fans had a lot in their luggage and ignited: Smoke bombs, Bengal flares and rockets – these also flew towards the Rahn stand. The game was briefly interrupted. Afterwards, a flag of Rot-Weiss Essen also burned in the visitors’ block.

On Sunday evening, the new stadium turf of Essen was once again a disaster. Already after the last two home games of the Esseners, it was criticised that it had not grown together properly. Against Münster, too, large pieces of the pitch kept coming loose. In the 71st minute, the referee even had to interrupt briefly so that parts of the pitch could be repaired.

The video of the winning goal by RWE offensive player Thomas Eisfeld can be found here at our colleagues from Magenta Sport.

Then football took centre stage again. And Thomas Eisfeld provided an emotional finale with his last-minute goal.