Wuppertaler SV earned a 0-0 draw at FC Gütersloh. While WSV coach Sebastian Tyrala is happy with the point, Gütersloh coach Julian Hesse had hoped for more.
FC Gütersloh played to a 0–0 draw against Wuppertaler SV on Matchday 15 of the Regionalliga West. A home win would have put FCG on par with the top two teams, Fortuna Köln and Schalke II, but in a game that was tough for long stretches, the East Westphalians were unable to pull it off.
“We knew we wouldn’t get 20 top-notch chances, that we’d need a lot of patience, and that we’d have to capitalize on the few opportunities we did get,” said FCG coach Julian Hesse, who was already aware before the match that, despite their position in the standings, it would by no means be a walk in the park. “And that’s exactly the kind of game it turned out to be at the end of the day,” the 36-year-old concluded.
In the first half, the fourth-place team had the best chances to score when Jan Lukas Liehr’s low shot was stopped by WSV goalkeeper Michael Luyambula (20th minute) and Toshiaki Miyamoto managed to clear a header by Liehr off the line (21st minute).
Otherwise, there were hardly any shots on goal or chances in the penalty area for either side. “I think we had 20 corner kicks and high throw-ins and tried everything, but there was always a foot in the way, and Wuppertal defended passionately. Still, I believe we had the chances to win 1–0 in the end. All in all, though, we have to live with it. It feels like two points lost,” Hesse lamented the result.
Sebastian Tyrala, head coach of Wuppertaler SV, on the other hand, was quite satisfied with the point earned. “I’m glad we kept a clean sheet and deservedly came away with a point. We didn’t give much away and had our own chances as well. I’m very happy and proud of my team because Gütersloh is truly a top-tier team,” Tyrala praised his squad.
The former pro admitted that his team didn’t exactly put on an entertaining game for the 1,809 spectators at Heidewaldstadion, but his game plan had worked out. “Standing strong defensively and then counterattacking—that’s our style right now. And the team does that very well,” said the 37-year-old. “Every game in the Regionalliga is incredibly close and tough. You can win any game, but you can also lose any game by a wide margin. So we’re happy to take the point.”
The WSV faces its next important match this coming Saturday (November 15, 1:30 p.m.). In the Niederrhein Cup quarterfinals, the Red-and-Blues will travel to face Oberliga side FC Büderich. FC Gütersloh won’t play again until two weeks from now (November 23, 6:00 p.m.) against VfL Bochum’s U21 team.
