On the first matchday of the U19-Bundesliga West, Rot-Weiss Essen fought their way to a draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach in a shorthanded game and with the coach in the stands.
In the opening game of the U19 Bundesliga West, Rot-Weiss Essen and Borussia Mönchengladbach drew 1-1. In the first half, Gladbach created chance after chance and took a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute through Luis Werrmann.
RWE coach Suat Tokat was not dissatisfied with his team’s performance in the first half: “We had a clear match plan, wanted to close the spaces, and we managed to do that. When we conceded a goal, we lost the ball in midfield and Gladbach switched quickly. If we don’t lose the ball there, we won’t go behind. Apart from that, I didn’t see any big chances from Gladbach.”
Sebastian König, U19 coach of Borussia Mönchengladbach, remembers the first half differently: “I am satisfied with my team’s performance in the first half. But the game has to be decided by the break, we have to lead 3:0. Then Essen won’t be able to get their foot in the door. “
After the change of ends, Essen played more forward, Gladbach had difficulties to get back into the game. In the 80th minute, substitute Ahmed Etri equalised. Tokat praised his team after the game for an impressive fight: “In the second half we were more courageous going forward, didn’t allow anything at the back and in the end we even had the chance to score the winning goal. We are happy to take the point, even if we would have preferred three. We can definitely build on this performance. “
Two sending-offs for RWE
The referee Yannik Rupert caused some outcry from the Essen side. In the 59th minute he sent off Arnis Osmani after a verbal altercation. “I don’t know what Arnis said. But he is a clean boy. I don’t think it was that bad,” Tokat takes his player to task. “The team showed mental strength. We always believed in ourselves and showed a strong fight after the sending off.”
Tokat was also shown the red card in the closing stages. “My goalkeeper gets worked from behind by the opponent at the corner. If you are going to whistle at this level, you have to see that. I was not happy with some of the decisions” Tokat recalls. He alludes to a free-kick situation in the first half where an Essen goal was disallowed because Rupert had not yet blown the whistle. “We all make mistakes, but you have to be insightful afterwards. I’m also very emotional, that’s part of football. Then I also speak my mind, within reason of course. “