Alemannia Aachen lost their opening match of the Regionalliga West in the last second. One scene caused a lot of excitement for coach Helge Hohl.
The opening game of the Regionalliga West had it all: After leading for a long time, Alemannia Aachen gave away a victory against Wuppertaler SV in injury time. The final score in front of 27,300 spectators at the Tivoli was 1:2 (1:0).
Initially, the record opening crowd saw a game with few chances and no major highlights in the first half. “I was very satisfied with the first 45 minutes,” said Aachen coach Helge Hohl afterwards, analyzing: “In the end, we didn’t allow anything and were able to implement what we had planned.”
An own goal after a sharply kicked free kick gave the hosts a 1-0 lead. WSV coach Hüzeyfe Dogan did not blame the unlucky Lukas Demming. Rather, the origin of the situation bothered him: “The foul before the goal against was unnecessary. With it we make ourselves the thing purely. In general, the first half was pretty even.”
After the change of ends, the Bergische then showed a different face, played a significantly larger share of the game and increased the pressure. For long stretches, however, the WSV attack lacked the final punch. Aachen coach Hohl criticized his team: “We didn’t manage to create any relief. We didn’t play the spaces well after winning the ball and hardly got out of our own half.”
What finally happened in stoppage time then completely outraged the young head coach. WSV attacker Charlison Benschop was impetuously knocked down by Alemannia keeper Marcel Johnen, and the referee pointed to the spot. Damjan Marceta converted the penalty kick to equalize 1-1. In literally the last second, Lion Schweers made the madness perfect with his header for the 2-1 victory.
Referee error caused excitement
Seconds after the final whistle, however, it turned out that the penalty whistle for the 1:1 should not have been given. Benschop was clearly outside the penalty area when the foul was committed. Accordingly, the Black and Yellows were upset in the catacombs. “It was difficult to keep calm. The referees themselves admitted their mistake. The alleged foul play was clearly outside the sixteenth – two meters in front of it. Even if it is a free kick, the player is still free to finish. Thus, it would only be a yellow card. The referee also confirmed that to me,” said Aachen coach Hohl.
“Ultimately,” the coach continued, “we can’t blame everything on the referee, though, but have to question ourselves.” From Alemannia’s point of view, a point win ultimately failed due to nerves: “What must not happen to us is that we don’t get back into the game after the equalizer and no longer have access at the corner.” The defeat at the start was now a “maximum damper”.
With his counterpart, WSV coach, Hüzeyfe Dogan the mood was certainly at its best. The 42-year-old praised confidently: “Ultimately, I think there was only one team that played after the break and wanted to win – that was WSV. That’s why I can also speak of a deserved victory. “
